Introduction

In patients with symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), percutaneous alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is an accepted alternative to surgical septal myectomy (‘myectomy’) [1–3]. Although no randomised controlled trials have been performed, observational meta-analyses for ASA versus myectomy show excellent long-term survival rates for both procedures [4–7]. However, reduction of the gradient in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) appears to be slightly less for patients who undergo ASA [4]; repeat interventions are performed more often after ASA [8] and in a single-centre study cardiac death occurred more often after ASA compared with myectomy [9]. With myectomy, the basal part of the septum, responsible for the obstruction of the LVOT, is usually resected completely. In contrast, after ASA the most basal part of the septum may in some cases be spared causing residual obstruction [10]. In this study, we studied the predictors of outcome after ASA with special interest for the septal coronary anatomy.

Methods

Patients

We studied patients who were treated for HOCM at the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands. For patients to be selected for septum reduction (either ASA or myectomy) they had to have severe symptoms (New York Heart Association functional class ≥ 3) despite trial of optimal medical therapy in combination with a resting gradient in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) ≥ 30 mmHg and/or a provocable gradient ≥ 50 mmHg. All patients were required to have left ventricular asymmetrical septal hypertrophy, with a minimal septum diameter ≥ 15 mm. Patients with concomitant (sub)valvular disease or other conditions that warranted surgery were accepted to undergo surgical myectomy. Patients who were eligible for both options were informed about the known risks and benefits of both ASA and surgical myectomy and were offered the choice between these procedures. Routine clinical and echocardiographic assessments were performed in all patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of all the clinical data along with analysis of the echocardiographic images and coronary angiograms. Civil registries were used to determine survival in January 2011. The study conformed to principles defined in the Helsinki Declaration.

Definitions

Successful symptomatic relief was defined as a New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class ≤ 2 with a lowering of at least one NYHA class at follow-up. The combination of both successful symptomatic relief with a resting gradient < 30 mmHg and a provoked gradient < 50 mmHg during echocardiographic assessment at 4-month follow-up was used as a strict definition for successful outcome.

Alcohol septal ablation

ASA was performed as described in detail previously [11]. In short, with the aid of a flexible coronary guide wire, a coronary balloon was placed in the most proximal septal branch. Myocardial contrast echocardiography was used for further guidance. When the region of contrast in the septum was satisfactory and adjacent to the area of septal contact of the anterior mitral valve leaflet, 0.5 to 3 ml of concentrated ethanol was slowly injected through the inflated balloon catheter. The balloon was left inflated for 10 min to prevent retrograde spill of ethanol. Invasive gradients in the LVOT were measured continuously during the procedure using a 6 French pigtail catheter inserted in the left ventricle. For testing of a provocable gradient, the Valsalva manoeuvre and extrasystolic beats were used. When the gradient in the LVOT remained ≥ 30 mmHg after the first ablation (either at rest or after provocation), the procedure was repeated in a second septal branch. During the procedure, all patients received a temporary transvenous pacemaker. If an AV block remained more than 48 h after the procedure, a definitive pacemaker was implanted.

Echocardiography

All echocardiograms were performed with Hewlett-Packard Sonos 5500 and Philips IE33 ultrasound imaging systems and were stored as digital images in a database. Philips’ Excelera software program was used for all measurements, which were performed by a single observer (RCS) who was blinded for the purpose of the study. Measurement of the peak LVOT gradient both at rest and after provocation using the Valsava manoeuvre was obtained in the apical 3 or 5 chamber view. The degree of mitral insufficiency (MI) was graded from 0 to 4 (grade 0 = no MI, grade 1 = mild, grades 2 and 3 = moderate, grade 4 = severe) [12]. The degree of systolic anterior motion (SAM) was graded from 0 to 4 (grade 0 = no SAM, grade 1 = SAM with distance from septum to AMVL > 10 mm, grade 2 = SAM with distance from septum to AMVL < 10 mm, grade 3 = AMVL makes brief septal contact, grade 4 = septal contact > 30 % during systole) [13]. The minimal LVOT diameter was measured as the narrowest part in the LVOT between the septum and the basis of the anterior mitral valve leaflet (AMVL) during systole. At 4 months of follow-up after ASA, the baseline measurements were repeated and in addition, in the parasternal long-axis view, septal thinning due to the infarction was evaluated at end-diastole. When septal thinning was found from the beginning of the septum, the infarction was considered to be without sparing of the basal septum. Otherwise, the infarction was considered to have spared the basal septum. Akinesia of the basal septum was rated as either present or absent.

Coronary angiography

Coronary angiography was usually performed shortly before the procedure. For the purpose of the present study, the coronary angiograms of all patients were retrospectively analysed for the presence of non-ablated proximal septal branches. All branches that clearly perfused the septum and were proximal to the first ablated septal branch were considered non-ablated septal branches. Furthermore, using Philips suite QCA with the catheter diameter for calibration, we measured the distance from the origin of the LAD to the origin of the ablated septal branch. We also measured the diameters of the origin of both the non-ablated proximal septal branch and the ablated septal branches.

Statistical analysis

Data are given as the mean and standard deviation when normally distributed, as the median with interquartile range for skewed distributions, and as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. The Student’s t-test was used for continuous variables and the chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. Pearson’s test was used for calculating correlations. Logistic regression was carried out to identify univariate predictors of unsuccessful outcome. Stepwise backward logistic regression analysis was carried out in a multivariate analysis. Variables were considered in the multivariate models when a P-value of < 0.1 was obtained in the univariate analysis. In secondary analysis, interaction analysis was carried out to establish significant interactions between the variables of septal coronary anatomy and unsuccessful outcome. All reported probability values are two-tailed, a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant and a P-value < 0.1 was considered significant for interaction analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA, College Station, Texas, version 10.0.

Results

A dataset of 113 patients who underwent ASA in our institution from January 2000 to December 2009 was completed. At 4-month follow-up a successful symptomatic result was found in 90 % of all patients. The total group showed reduction of the echocardiographic gradient both at rest and after provocation from 50 mmHg ± 43 and 113 mmHg ± 61, respectively, before the procedure to 22 mmHg ± 26 and 38 mmHg ± 40, measured 4 months after ASA (p < 0.001). According to the definition of the present study, ASA was successful in 76 patients (successful group) and unsuccessful in 37 patients (unsuccessful group). The baseline characteristics of the patients in the two groups did not differ significantly (Table 1). At 4 months after the procedure, the NYHA functional class had improved, resulting in a post-procedural NYHA functional class of 1.0 ± 0.6 in the successful group versus 1.9 ± 1.0 in the unsuccessful group (p < 0.001).

Table 1 Baseline characteristics
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In terms of peri-procedural complications ventricular fibrillation occurred once and was treated with defibrillation, tamponade occurred once and was treated with pericardiocentesis and dissection in the LAD occurred once and was treated with a stent implantation. A definitive pacemaker was inserted in five patients. During a follow-up of 5.3 ± 2.5 years there were 4 deaths (3 non-cardiac, 1 cardiac), amounting an annual all-cause mortality of 0.7 %.

Echocardiographic findings

Echocardiographic findings at baseline and at 4-month follow-up comparing both groups are shown in Table 2. Before ASA, the resting gradient in the LVOT was higher in the unsuccessful group than in the successful group, but the other characteristics were comparable. Inherent to the definition of successful outcome, after ASA the LVOT gradient in the unsuccessful group was higher than in the successful group. Furthermore, in the unsuccessful group, infarctions with sparing of the basal septum were more common than in the successful group. Of note, infarctions without sparing of the basal septum were associated with a larger minimal LVOT (20 ± 4 vs 15 ± 4, p < 0.001) and a lower grade of SAM (0.7 ± 0.6 vs 2.0 ± 1.1, p < 0.001) compared with infarctions with sparing.

Table 2 Echocardiographic findings at baseline and 4 months follow up
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Angiographic findings

The angiographic findings are shown in Table 1. In the unsuccessful group, there were more patients with a non-ablated proximal septal branch and the distance from the origin of the LAD to the ablated branch was greater. In both groups the diameter of the first ablated branch was larger than the diameter of the non-ablated proximal septal branch (p < 0.01 for both groups).

Predictors of unsuccessful outcome

Of all the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics at baseline, only baseline resting gradient at echocardiography predicted outcome. Of the angiographic characteristics, both the presence of a non-ablated proximal septal branch and the distance to the ablated septal branch were predictors of outcome (Table 3). After multivariate analysis, only the distance to the ablated branch and baseline resting gradient were found to be predictive for outcome after ASA (Table 3). Secondary analysis revealed a significant interaction between the distance to the ablated branch and the presence of a nonablated proximal septal branch when the distance was dichotomised based on the 19 mm optimal cut-off point (using highest sensitivity and specificity) (P-value for interaction 0.025). The presence of a non-ablated proximal septal branch and a distance ≥ 19 mm to the ablated branch predicted an unsuccessful outcome (OR 5.88 (2.06–16.74), P < 0.001), Table 4) Of note, in this subgroup of patients (n = 27/113, 24 %), sparing of the basal septum was more common (55 % versus 15 %, p < 0.001) compared with the other patients.

Table 3 Univariate and multivariate predictors of unsuccessful outcome
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Table 4 Multivariate predictors of successful outcome taking into account the interaction between the distance to the ablated branch and the presence of a non-ablated branch
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Discussion

Symptomatic relief was found in 90 % of patients, comparable with previous results [1, 14], but success of ASA in terms of reduction of the gradient was somewhat less common. We found that a greater distance from the origin of the LAD to the ablated septal branch, especially in the presence of a non-ablated proximal septal branch, was associated with an unsuccessful outcome 4 months after ASA, independent of the severity of the baseline resting gradient. In terms of safety, mortality rate was low. Complication rates in our study were low including the number of pacemaker implantations, probably due to the low amounts of alcohol we used based on careful assessment with myocardial contrast echocardiography.

Unfavourable coronary anatomy

As previously demonstrated using cardiac MRI, patients exhibit a more variable location of septal thinning after ASA compared with surgical myectomy [10]. The access to the perfusion bed of the most basal part of the septum may for the interventional cardiologist be limited or difficult due to the variability of the septal anatomy [15–17]. Even though ASA was only performed after contrast was seen in the region of interest using myocardial contrast echocardiography, we also found a considerable variation of the location of the infarction in our study. Moreover, an unfavourable anatomy (combined presence of a non-ablated proximal septal branch and a distance ≥ 19 mm to the ablated branch) was associated with an unsuccessful outcome. In these patients more frequent sparing of the most basal septum was found accompanied by a smaller minimal LVOT diameter and a higher grade of SAM. This may explain a lower success rate of ASA in patients with an unfavourable anatomy. For these patients, surgical myectomy might thus be a preferred method instead of ASA. The effect of an unfavourable anatomy on long-term survival and clinical outcome warrants further study.

Limitations

This was a retrospective single-centre study. Measurements were performed on the available angiographic images but we cannot rule out that more targeted imaging might have yielded more anatomically correct values. We used a strict definition for success consisting of a combined symptomatic result with the same haemodynamic criteria for invasive treatment mentioned in current guidelines [18]; however, there is no clear consensus for definition of success after ablation. The choice of the endpoint at 4 months was a practical one, simply based on the first contact at the outpatient clinic. It cannot be excluded that further improvements in symptomatic status and LVOT gradients occurred beyond 4 months after ASA.

Conclusions

Baseline gradient and the combined presence of a non-ablated proximal of septal branch with a greater distance to the ablated septal branch was found to be associated with an unsuccessful outcome after ASA. In practical terms this implies that ASA should probably not be performed when septal anatomy is unfavourable.