Laser myocardial revascularization

A significant number of patients with ischemic heart disease are not candidates for coronary artery bypass or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and do not respond to medical management. This group includes those who have diffuse coronary artery disease, those with poor ventricular function, and those who have had poor results from previous surgery. Developing a method to directly revascularize the myocardium by creating channels through the ventricular wall has challenged many investigators. Early methods, including needle acupuncture, were successful in the acute phase, but long-term patency could not be achieved. Closure of the channels was due to fibrosis and scarring. Experiments in our laboratory demonstrated that myocardial channels, made with the CO2 laser, remained patent up to five years. Histopathologic examination of the channels showed minimal damage to the surrounding cells in the acute phase. Studies at intervals of two months to two years showed patent endothelialized channels, with no evidence of fibrosis. Channels created in the myocardium protected the ventricle against an ischemic event when the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery was ligated. Clinical experience with direct myocardial revascularization by CO2 laser indicates it may be a viable method of treating those patients with ischemic heart disease who are not candidates for other forms of management. The treatment and early postoperative follow-up in one patient are described.