Physiology, histology, and 2-week morphology of acute transmyocardial channels made with a CO2 laser.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-1-1997
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transmyocardial revascularization with a CO2 laser appears to improve symptoms in patients with refractory angina. However, it remains controversial as to whether blood flow through the channels is the mechanism of benefit, especially in the acute setting.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Three protocols were used to test whether blood flows through transmyocardial CO2 laser revascularization channels. First, channels were made in excised, cross-perfused dog hearts (n = 5) using a CO2 laser (The Heart Laser; PLC Systems Inc, Milford, MA; 40 J/pulse) followed by ligation of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Colored microspheres injected into the left ventricular chamber failed to detect any significant transmyocardial blood flow. In the second protocol (n = 4), laser channels were created in the left anterior descending artery territory, the left anterior descending artery was ligated, and the hearts were excised after 24 hours. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining revealed that no viable myocardium was detected around the laser channels in the ischemic myocardium. Finally, channels examined 2 weeks after creation in normal (n = 6) or ischemic (n = 4) myocardium did not maintain their original caliber but were invaded by granulation tissue, which included a large amount of smaller vascular spaces and vessels of various sizes.
CONCLUSIONS: Transmyocardial laser revascularization channels made with this CO2 laser did not provide acute myocardial perfusion or preserve myocardial viability in the face of acute ischemia. Channel morphology changes dramatically within the first 2 weeks. To the degree that these findings pertain to human myocardium, the results suggest that transmyocardial blood flow may not be the mechanism of benefit of this procedure, particularly in the acute setting.
Volume
63
Issue
5
First Page
1275
Last Page
1283
ISSN
0003-4975
Published In/Presented At
Kohmoto, T., Fisher, P. E., Gu, A., Zhu, S. M., DeRosa, C. M., Smith, C. R., & Burkhoff, D. (1997). Physiology, histology, and 2-week morphology of acute transmyocardial channels made with a CO2 laser. The Annals of thoracic surgery, 63(5), 1275–1283. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0003-4975(97)00102-1
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
9146314
Department(s)
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Document Type
Article