Background-Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) has been proposed for treatment of refractory angina. It has been hypothesized that transmural left ventricular channels created by laser improve myocardial blood flow (MBF) in the treated zones. We aimed to assess the effect of TMLR on MBF and coronary vasodilator reserve (CVR). Methods and Results-We measured MBF by means of PET with 15 O-labeled water in 7 patients with refractory angina, Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class 3.6Ϯ0.5, on 3 occasions: before and at 7.5Ϯ2.8 weeks (FU-1) and 34.6Ϯ4.7 weeks (FU-2) after TMLR performed with a synchronized, high-powered CO 2 laser. In each study, MBF was measured at rest and during maximal intravenous dobutamine. CVR was computed as dobutamine divided by resting MBF. After TMLR, CCS class was 2.2Ϯ1.7 at FU-1 and 2.4Ϯ1 at FU-2 (Pϭ0.04 versus pre-TMLR). Resting MBF in both lasered and nonlasered regions was unchanged after TMLR. Dobutamine MBF at baseline was 1.45Ϯ0.52 and 1.55Ϯ0.52 mL ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ g Ϫ1 in lasered and nonlasered regions, respectively (PϭNS). At FU-1, dobutamine MBF in nonlasered regions had increased significantly to 1.89Ϯ0.82 mL ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ g Ϫ1 (PϽ0.05) and was higher than in lasered regions (1.51Ϯ0.61 mL ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ g Ϫ1 ; PϽ0.05 versus nonlasered). At FU-2, dobutamine MBF in nonlasered regions was still higher than in lasered regions (1.56Ϯ0.54 versus 1.21Ϯ0.44 mL ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ g Ϫ1 ; PϽ0.01). CVR was comparable in nonlasered and lasered regions at baseline and FU-1, whereas it was higher in nonlasered regions at FU-2 (1.86Ϯ0.67 versus 1.53Ϯ0.72 mL ⅐ min Ϫ1 ⅐ g Ϫ1 ; PϽ0.05). Conclusions-TMLR has been shown to reduce angina in severely diseased patients. The results of our study do not support the hypothesis that the symptomatic benefit of TMLR can be ascribed to improved myocardial perfusion or CVR in lasered areas.
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