Transmyocardial laser revascularization.

Abstract

Low-powered lasers were first used in the early 1980s to produce transventricular channels as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Early results were encouraging, but because of the combined procedure, could not be attributed directly to use of the laser [1]. High-powered lasers were introduced into clinical practice in 1990 [2]. These lasers are powerful enough to create a transmyocardial channel with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissues [3]. Clinical studies, using transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) as the sole operative therapy for patients with severe and diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) who have Class III or IV angina, and are on medical therapy, have been conducted since 1993. Based on the results of these studies, the FDA granted approval for the use of TMR as a sole therapy. Clinical studies are currently underway to assess the results of combined TMR and CABG [4]. Results of four controlled randomized studies have been published [5-8]. The data from two of these studies formed the basis for FDA approval of two different types of laser systems. The results of these studies have not provided any additional insights into the mechanism of action of TMR, which remains the Achilles' heel of this procedure. In this review, background information about the TMR procedure will be discussed along with an analysis of the recently published randomized studies.