Clinical Application of Laser Treatment for Cardiovascular Surgery

Abstract

Background:Recently, several kinds of lasers have been widely employed in the field of medicine and surgery. However, laser applications are very rare in the field of cardiovascular surgery throughout the world. So, we have experimentally tried to use lasers in the field of cardiovascular surgery. There were three categories: 1) Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR), 2) Laser vascular anastomosis, and 3) Laser angioplasty in the peripheral arterial diseases.By the way, surgery for ischemic heart disease has been widely performed in Japan. Especially coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for these patients has been done as a popular surgical method. Among these patients there are a few cases for whom CABG and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could not be carried out, because of diffuse stenosis and small caliber of coronary arteries. Materials and methods of TMLR:A new method of tranasmyocardial revascularization by CO2 laser (output 100 W, irradiation time 0.2 sec) was experimentally performed to save severely ill patients. In this study, a feasibility of transmyocardial laser revascularization from left ventricular cavity through artificially created channels by laser was precisely evaluated. Results: In trials on dogs laser holes 0.2mm in diameter have been shown microscopically to be patent even 3 years after their creation, thus this procedure could be used as a new method of transmyocardial laser revascularization. Clinical application of TMLR: Subsequently, transmyocardial laser revascularization was employed in a 55-year-old male patient with severe angina pectoris who had undergone pericardiectomy 7 years before. He was completely recovered from severe chest pain. Conclusions of TMLR:This patient was the first successful case in the world with TMLR alone. This method might be done for the patients who percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting could be carried out. Laser vascular anastomosis: At present time, in vascular surgery there are some problems to keep long-term patency after anastomosis of the conventional suture method, especially for smallcaliber vessels. Materials and methods of Laser vascular anastomosis:From these standpoints, a low energy CO2 laser was employed experimentally in vascular anastomosis for small-caliber vessels. Resullts of Laser vascular anastomosis:From preliminary experiments it could be concluded that the optimal laser output was 20-40 mW and irradiation time was 6-12 sec/mm for vascular anastomosis of small-caliber vessels in the extremities. And then, histologic findings and intensity of the laser anastomotic sites were investigated thereafter. Subseqently, good enough intensity and good healing of laser anastomotic sites as well as the conventional suture method could be observed. There were no statistic differences between laser and suture methods. A feasibility of laser anastomosis could be considered and clinical application could be recognized. Clinical applications of Laser vascular anastomosis: On February 21, 1985, a...

Review of Laser Therapy in Cardiovascular Diseases

“…The Laser beam has to be persistent until the color of the lengthwise anastomosed mark modifies to lead-black or blackbrown. 21…”

The Evaluation of Laser Application in Surgery: A Review Article

“…In the cardiovascular surgery fields, laser applications are very rare throughout the world. 36 TMLR is performed as a method in ischemic heart disease with areas that cannot be bypassed through a small split in the left of the chest between the ribs (thoracotomy) under general anesthesia with coronary bypass surgery or alone. It is the only treatment method for severe angina and is used as a supplementary method for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).…”