Bail-out alcohol septal ablation in the management of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and refractory electrical storm

Abstract

CASE PRESENTATION This is the case of a 51-year old male without a past medical history. One month before his admission he experienced fast heart palpitations associated with diaphoresis, nausea and vomit. Both the electrocardiogram and the Holter monitor showed recurring episodes of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (figure 1). The physical examination confirmed the presence of an aortic ejection murmur exacerbated when performing the Valsalva maneuver. The transthoracic echocardiography showed obstructive asymmetric septal hypertrophy with a 32-mm maximum septal diameter (figure 2A), a 65-mmHg gradient in the left ventricular outflow tract, and systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve with moderate regurgitation. The cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of extensive myocardial fibrosis as a risk factor of sudden death (figure 2B and video 1 of the supplementary data). Amiodarone and propranolol were prescribed, and an automatic defibrillator was implanted as a secondary prevention measure. The patient was readmitted to the hospital 4 months later with signs of electrical storm with multiple discharges provided by the device implanted. Deep sedation, mechanical ventilation, and hemodynamic support were administered, and the stellate ganglion was blocked. However, the patient progression was poor with persistent episodes of ventricular tachycardia that triggered the mapping of cardiac...