Cardiologist Receives FDA Approval for HOCM Treatment

Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, or HOCM, is a genetic disease in which the septum of the heart is enlarged or thickened. This thickening causes such symptoms as shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, congestive heart failure, and an abnormal heart beat that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Current treatment to decrease the thickening of the septum in either to surgically remove part of the septum (open heart surgery) or to inject alcohol into a blood vessel to ‘kill’ part of the septum. The only proven treatment for sudden cardiac death is the implantation of an ICD, or Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator. Cardiology Associates physician, Dr. Karl Crossen, teamed up with Research Manager, Marsha Jones, RN, BSN, CCRP, to write a research protocol for radio-frequency septal ablation, a novel technique in which Dr. Crossen uses radio-frequency to ablate or ‘burn’ areas of the septum. The procedure does not require invasive surgery or injecting alcohol into blood vessels. After 2 years of working with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the North MS Medical Center, Dr. Crossen and Ms. Jones were granted approval to conduct the research study on 10 patients. On December 12, 2012, Mr. Eugene Ward was the first pt. to have the procedure performed through the research study.