Winthrop Establishes Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center

Winthrop-University Hospital on Long Island is pleased to announce the creation of a comprehensive resource for patients and families who are living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The most common cause of heart-related sudden death in people under 30 years of age, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is increasingly recognized as a cause of heart failure, chest pain, shortness of breath, and premature death in the adult population.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a genetic cardiac condition that occurs in approximately 1 in 500 individuals. Despite the inheritable nature of the condition, however, HCM often appears without an obvious family history, and may present at any age. The condition is characterized by an excessive thickening of heart muscle, which makes it difficult for the heart to fill properly with blood. This can render the heart incapable of pumping blood effectively. This may result in shortness of breath, lightheadedness, palpitations and even heart failure. In rare instances, it can lead to sudden collapse and even death during or following rigorous exercise.

Winthrop-University Hospital's new Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center offers comprehensive expert care for HCM, including the latest options in minimally invasive treatment for patients who qualify. Services for the diagnosis and treatment of HCM at Winthrop include:

• Screening and Diagnosis

• Genetic Counseling / Screening

• Electrophysiologic Testing

• Lifestyle Modification Counseling

• Medical Therapy

• Permanent Pacemaker

• Alcohol Septal Ablation (minimally invasive procedure)

• Surgical Myectomy (open heart surgery)

• Implantable Defibrillator (ICD)

The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at Winthrop is operated under the leadership of Dr. Srihari S. Naidu, Director of the Hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Center, which includes four technologically advanced cardiac catheterization labs. Dr. Naidu is well known as a clinician and researcher in the field of interventional cardiology, and is a leader in the care and treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

At Winthrop, Dr. Naidu introduced a new minimally-invasive method of treatment for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, for patients in whom medical therapy has failed. The procedure, called Alcohol Septal Ablation, provides a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. It involves the controlled injection of a small amount of absolute alcohol into the heart to destroy excessive heart muscle in the septum. Dr. Naidu, who trained in the procedure at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and then introduced the technique at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Cornell Medical Center, has developed modifications to the procedure, which have been published in a series of recent journal articles.

Dr. Naidu has been recognized with awards and honors from many organizations, and is a regularly invited lecturer for the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology annual meetings. He also teaches the alcohol septal ablation procedure nationally as a faculty member for various Interventional Cardiology Review Courses. He has performed extensive research in interventional cardiology and heart failure and has published over 17 papers and book chapters in prestigious journals including Circulation, the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Interventional Cardiology.

The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at Winthrop is a component of the John D. Miller Interventional Cardiology Pavilion and the Hospital's Institute for Heart Care. The HCM Center at Winthrop has been named a Center of Excellence by the national Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA). In November, Winthrop-University Hospital's highly respected Division of Cardiology and the HCMA will co-sponsor Long Island's first HCM Symposium, which is open to patients, their families, and health care providers.

The Institute for Heart Care at Winthrop offers advanced diagnostics and disease prevention programs, as well as sophisticated medical treatment and rehabilitation, and a superior cardiac surgery and interventional program known across New York State for its excellent outcomes.

For more information about Winthrop's Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, call (516) 663-9696.