Substitution of ethanol with specially designed microspheres in a TASH procedure

Aims: We present our first clinical experience to substitute ethanol with special designed microspheres in a TASH procedure (transcatheter ablation of septal hypertrophy). TASH is a standard approach for the treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, severely symptomatic despite maximal medical therapy. However, the injection of alcohol remains a source of some possible complications. Methods and results: We substituted alcohol with special designed microspheres. A highly symptomatic HOCM patient underwent a procedure of percutaneous ablation of his hypertrophied septum with the use of Embozene (R) microspheres. The procedure was successful, as the gradient was reduced from 70 before the procedure to 10 mmHg afterwards. Conclusions: TASH by means of microspheres embolisation instead of alcohol was a safe and successful in the short-term procedure.