Alcoholization of the interventricular septum (Sigwart procedure) for treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

A patient with NYHA Class III dyspnea under medical treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy underwent alcoholization of the first septal perforator. The procedure induced complete disappearance of the intraventricular gradient, with development of a Q-wave anterior myocardial infarction (peak CK rise = 1645 IU) and a complete right bundle branch block. After 5 months the patient maintains a marked improvement in functional capacity (NYHA Class I).