OBJECTIVE Gauging the acute effect of Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) as a treatment for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). METHODS PTSMA was performed in 52 patients with symptomatic HOCM [mean age (44.7 +/- 11.9), male 38, female 14]. All patients had echocardiography performed prior to the procedure, 3-7 days post-PTSMA. RESULTS Procedure success was achieved in 41 patients, success rate was 78.8%. The average left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient was (92.64 +/- 38.69) mm Hg before the procedure, and (51.79 +/- 38.99) mm Hg after the procedure (P < 0.001). The thickness of interventricular septum (IVS) was (22.96 +/- 5.15) mm before the procedure and became (21.27 +/- 4.64) mm 3-7 days post-PTSMA (P < 0.05). The incidence of right bundle branch block development post-PTSMA was 15.38% (> 48 h), and one patient (1.92%) had complete heart block. Two patients died. CONCLUSIONS PTSMA is an effective non-surgical procedure for symptomatic patients with HOCM because of its low risk and its significant hemodynamic and echocardiographic improvement.