Cardiac Rehab

Transmyocardial Revascularization
Transmyocardial revascularization, or TMR, is a surgical procedure used to treat severe angina, or chest pain, which is caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. To perform the procedure, the surgeon makes a small horizontal incision on the left side of the chest. Then, using a powerful CO2 laser, the surgeon creates 15 to 40 one-millimeter-wide holes in the heart's left ventricle, allowing blood to flow into the heart muscle again. It may also stimulate the growth of new blood vessels within the heart muscle. When the heart muscle receives more oxygen, the pain of angina is reduced.