What is Percutaneous Transmyocardial Revascularization (PTMR)?
There are many patients who because of small size vessels or diffuse disease are not good candidates for percutaneous interventions or bypass surgery. These patients become severely limited because of incapacitating angina. Percutaneous Transluminal Myocardial Revascularization (PTMR) can provide these with symptomatic relief of angina. In some animals, like crocodiles and alligators, the blood flow to the heart muscle is directly from the LV chamber via small channels. Based on this knowledge, Dr. Mirhoseini created channels in human hearts using laser energy. Over the last few years other surgeons have created similar laser channels directly into the heart muscle with objectively evident beneficial effects. However, the surgical method is more invasive and is associated with 10-19% mortality. Now, using catheter-based technology, Dr. Shawl is able to create channels from inside the chamber of the human heart into the LV muscles and performed the first few cases in India without any c
