Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR)

New Hope for Angina Patients

If you’re living with chronic chest pain and have run out of treatment options, then you will be interested to hear about Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR). A revolutionary laser surgery that treats chronic chest pain, TMR is the best hope for angina patients who are not candidates for bypass surgery or angioplasty. TMR uses a laser beam to open channels in the wall of the heart, restoring blood flow and oxygen.

This procedure gives hope to patients who are:

• Suffering from severe angina despite taking medications
• Limited in their activity due to their chest pain
• Too ill to have coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty.

Numerous studies have shown a significant improvement in patients undergoing laser revascularization, including:

• Chest pain relief
• Improved quality of life
• Fewer visits to the Emergency Department
• Decrease in medications
• Improved blood flow to the heart

How TMR Works

TMR is a cardiac surgical procedure that creates conduits or channels through the wall of the heart. This improves blood flow into areas of the heart that are not amenable to direct revascularization. The heart continues to beat during the procedure, so there is no need to use a heart/lung bypass machine.

The surgeon makes a small incision on the left side of the chest and positions the laser hand piece outside of the oxygen-deprived areas of the heart. In synchronicity with the beat of the heart, the surgeon then shoots 1 mm channels through the heart muscle into the heart chamber. The outside of the channel seals within minutes but the thin bloodline remains open through the heart.

Patients show immediate results in their level of pain as well as their exercise tolerance. After TMR surgery, they are usually able to resume many activities and enjoy a greatly improved quality of life.

About Our TMR Program

The CO2 laser is the only heart-oriented laser available, and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center was the first to use it in Northern California. Our cardiac surgeons have used the CO2 laser on many patients and they also train other surgeons to use the laser. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend this FDA-approved treatment.