[Laser transmyocardial revascularization of the myocardium in ischemic heart disease]

The article describes experiments in animals with laser revascularization of the myocardium and first operations of laser transmyocardial revascularization of the myocardium in man without a combination with operations on the coronary vessels. Operations were performed on 15 IHD patients with the III-IV functional class of cardiac insufficiency. The operations were favourable in all the patients. Immediate and long-term results suggest that this operation can be an alternative to direct interventions on coronary arteries and seems to be the only possibility in patients for whom operations on the heart vessels are not indicated or contraindicated.