Surgical Treatments
If the patient is not a candidate for interventional cardiology procedures, then Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting may be indicated:
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR)
Transmyocardial revascularization or TMR is a procedure used to relieve severe angina or chest pain in very ill patients who aren't candidates for bypass surgery or angioplasty.
How is it done?
In this procedure, a surgeon makes an incision on the left breast to expose the heart. Then, using a laser, the surgeon drills a series of holes from the outside of the heart into the heart's pumping chamber.
How does it work?
- How TMR reduces angina still isn't fully understood.
- The laser may stimulate new blood vessels to grow, called angiogenesis (an"je-o-JEN'eh-sis).
- It may destroy nerve fibers to the heart, making patients unable to feel their chest pain.