Role of Transapical Incision in the Surgical Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Transapical ventriculotomy is an important technique in the surgical management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It is our preferred method for addressing complex long-segment subaortic obstruction and isolated midventricular HCM, as it provides better exposure of the midcavity than alternate methods such as the transaortic or transmitral approach. The procedure can also be used to improve symptoms of diastolic heart failure caused by reduced left ventricular end-diastolic volume as may occur in patients with apical HCM. In this article, we describe our surgical method for transapical myectomy to relieve midventricular obstruction or enlarge the left ventricular cavity to improve diastolic dysfunction in cases of extensive apical hypertrophy. Transapical ventriculotomy is an important technique in the surgical management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). It is our preferred method for addressing complex long-segment subaortic obstruction and isolated midventricular HCM, as it provides better exposure of the midcavity than alternate methods such as the transaortic or transmitral approach. The procedure can also be used to improve symptoms of diastolic heart failure caused by reduced left ventricular end-diastolic volume as may occur in patients with apical HCM. In this article, we describe our surgical method for transapical myectomy to relieve midventricular obstruction or enlarge the left ventricular cavity to improve diastolic dysfunction in cases of extensive apical hypertrophy.