Contribution of ultrasound contrast in predicting conduction disturbances during percutaneous alcohol septal ablation

Abstract

Percutaneous alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has emerged as an effective and less invasive therapy for symptomatic patients with obstructive cardiomyopathy [1–3]. The main complication of percutaneous alcohol septal ablation is the risk of permanent atrio-ventricular (AV) block ranging between 10% and 15% [4,5]. The commonly admitted mechanism of AV block is the widespread alcohol diffusion. Several studies demonstrated that baseline left bundle branch block, alcohol dose, bolus injection and multiple septal branch treatment increased the risk of permanent AV block [6,7].