TMR Said to Lower Heart Disease Pain
BOSTON, Oct. 4 -- The New England Journal of Medicine has published new research showing that using a laser to drill holes in heart muscle to restore blood flow significantly reduces the pain and discomfort associated with heart disease. In this procedure, known as transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR), surgeons use a CO
2 laser to perforate the wall of the heart, cutting 15 to 30 one-millimeter-size holes to improve blood flow to the heart muscle.
In the study, researchers from 12 medical centers studied 192 patients who were chosen at random to be treated using TMR or continued medical management drugs such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitrates. Doctors found that 12 months after the procedure, 72 percent of the TMR patients reported their angina had improved at least 2 classes, based on the Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina scale. Thirteen percent of the medically managed patients reported comparable improvement.
LATEST NEWS
- CLEO Heads to the East Coast
Apr 29, 2024
- Laser-Based Gas Analyzer Developed to Detect Air Pollution
Apr 29, 2024
- Qubits Could be Stored in Flash-Like Memory
Apr 29, 2024
- Exail Signs LLNL Contract, Partners with Eelume
Apr 26, 2024
- Menlo Moves U.S. HQ: Week in Brief: 4/26/2024
Apr 26, 2024
- Optofluidics Platform Keys Label-, Amplification-Free Rapid Diagnostic Tool
Apr 25, 2024
- DUV Lasers Made with Nonlinear Crystals Enhance Lithography Performance
Apr 25, 2024
- Teledyne e2v, Airy3D Collaborate on 3D Vision Solutions
Apr 24, 2024