supra-arterial myotomy

hello has anyone had this heart surgery? It seems to be more available in US but not so in UK. Technically it’s cutting the heart muscle open to release the (most common) LAD which grew inside the heart muscle instead of on the surface of the heart during pregnancy so is a congenital heart defect (myocardial bridge).

the surgery options are supra-arterial myotomy (unroofing) as above or CABG, CABG is only option if the LAD is buried deep (greater than 5mm, mine is 7.8mm at its deepest) because can damage the heart (think ventricles). But CABGs fail per sae and cause competitive flow. And no surgery helps with the implications of a LAD thats been trapped for many many years - endothelial dysfunction/microvascular issues/ remodelling of the heart I.e. LVH.

I’m awaiting testing to see if surgery required / possible but in UK even if I am candidate for surgery it’s very questionable I would get it.

but I thought I’d ask just in case anyone out there who’s had it. I often feel lonely in my one member myocardial bridge club 😁 here on healthunlocked.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I hope you can find someone!

[Motherofdreams]

I have been diagnosed recently with a myocardial bridge and have been told by the cardiologist that they can’t to anything more medicine wise with my condition and the next step would be surgery. It came as a bit of a surprise so I was unprepared and didn’t ask questions about what it would entail.

I find a lot of information about surgery in America but it doesn’t seem to be routinely carried out in the Uk

[Hidden in reply to Motherofdreams]

whilst I wouldn’t wish a Symtomatic MB on anyone, now there are two of us here! I’m in same position it looks like as meds exhausted, waiting for testing re decision regards surgery. and yes US a seems to have more experience, have you seen the Facebook group?

facebook.com/groups/Myocard...

There are few studies / research too, this is a pretty decent one

ecrjournal.com/articles/bri...

It helps to know how long and deep your bridge is - they should be able to tell you from a Ct scan / Ct angiogram.

It’s a complex condition for cardiologists to understand, also a lot don’t believe it can cause issues. Apologies if you know all this already.

What symptoms do you have?

I have angina pain as soon as move - chest tightness and pain, then left sided pain as well as shortness of breath (doesn’t take much exertion). I get pressure and pain across my lower ribs and across stomach. I do get some relief with rest. I have a pounding heart too, can feel it through left side, chest, neck and head - but this one’s a weird one and happens all the time. Meds been exhausted and I can’t take beta blockers which seem to work for some people. Can’t work, can’t live a normal life at present.

If I can answer any questions you might have, I’d be happy to help.

[Motherofdreams]

I have a short bridging in mid LAD and at the time was told it wasn’t a problem I had been admitted after attending A&E with chest pains and was admitted because ECG showed LBB and subsequently had an angiogram whilst I was on the CC ward. I was sent home and had a stress test and MRI cardiac scan that showed that I had at some time had a heart attack.

My symptoms are mainly chest pains and shortness of breath My cardiologist seems to change his mind evertime I talk to him I thought he had an understanding of Myocardial Bridge but after my latest telephone appt I’m not sure. I am just on Bropandol and Amlodipine but do get very fatigued and tired

I was very fit and healthy and enjoyed hill walking and cycling and have had to change my life. I am learning to come to terms with it.

[Hidden]

that’s alarming regards the heartache, I hope you find some relief soon. That sound familiar regards a cardiologist changing their mind. I’m on amlodipine (was given for High BP prior to detection of mb) it’s ok for high BP but does nothing for angina.

[Lizzy-loo]

Hello :)Hoping to join your club and make it up to 3 members with a myocardial bridge diagnosis.

I've just registered to see if there were others in the UK (and maybe local to me) who had had a diagnosis but it looks like we're few and far between...

[Hidden in reply to Lizzy-loo]

hello and welcome

that’s definitely a club now😊, yes we are few and far between. Makes it all the more difficult. But non mb people here have been very helpful and supportive.

Since I wrote this post I’ve had a proper diagnosis recently.

I’m back on diltiazem but at 240mg a day till get to max dose or chest pain reduces - whichever comes first. At present not helping but it’s only been 6 days.

Surgery I’m told in my case doesn’t seem likely.

Hope you’re getting the support and treatment you need!

😊

[pjw17]

I'm another diagnosed with MB .

[Hidden in reply to pjw17]

welcome to the club no one wanted to be in! Hope you’re getting the help and treatment you need.

[pjw17 in reply to Hidden]

I've asked to be re referred back to cardiologist,but don't know what will happen,fingers crossed.

[Hidden in reply to pjw17]

trouble with this condition is very few cardiologists know about or think it could be an issue so the more we knew ourselves about MBs more you can push then to take seriously. It’s unfortunate, it’s tiring but we have to keep pushing them. Fingers crossed too.

[pjw17]

Agreed ,been reading up .