Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR)
Why
is the doctor performing this surgery?
To relieve
chronic chest pain (angina).
What
is the surgery?
Transmyocardial Revascularization is a laser surgery that
stimulates blood vessel growth, thereby decreasing chest pain due to
inadequate oxygen supply reaching the heart muscle itself. TMR is usually
performed in conjunction with bypass surgery (CABG) on individuals with
blood deprived heart muscle. The surgeon may create 20-40 new channels,
each 1 millimeter wide, in the muscular wall of the left ventricle using a
laser. These new channels stimulate angiogenesis, which is the natural
growth of new blood vessels within the heart muscle.
Where
is the surgery performed?
In the
Operating Room (OR), under general anesthesia.
How
long does this surgery take?
TMR usually
takes 1-2 hours to perform if this is the sole procedure being done. It may
only take minutes if being performed as part of a Coronary Artery Bypass
Graft (CABG) procedure.
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