 |
Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR)
What is Angina Pectoris?
Angina Pectoris (Angina) is a medical term used to describe chest pain resulting from coronary artery disease. All cells, muscles, and tissues in your body need the oxygen carried in your blood. If blood vessels, which bring blood to the heart muscle (the body's main blood pump), are clogged or damaged, the heart muscle does not receive the oxygen it needs. As a result, you may feel a pain called angina. Angina pain may be felt in your chest, neck, jaw, back, shoulders or arms. The pain can be mild to severe and may even be disabling.
TMR May Benefit You
TMR may benefit you if there is an area of your heart that is not receiving enough oxygen and your disease cannot be treated by balloon angioplasty or bypass surgery.
TMR has been proven to reduce angina pain and improve the quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease.
Treatment with TMR may help you return to a more active lifestyle.
Treatment with TMR may also reduce the need for some of the medications you are currently taking to manage your angina pain.
What is The TMR Procedure?
Using a laser, a surgeon will create tiny channels into the heart muscle to reduce the symptoms of severe angina. The channels are typically one millimeter in diameter, resembling the diameter of a standard sewing needle, and are placed approximately one-half inch apart. They seal almost immediately, and it is unusual for any significant bleeding to occur. Your surgeon will determine the number of channels to be placed and where they should be located.
How Does TMR Work?
At this time it is not fully understood how TMR relieves angina, although there are several theories that are under investigation for the way in which TMR works including:
Directly increasing the blood flow to the heart muscle
Stimulating the growth of new small blood vessels within the heart muscle
Reducing pain by impairing the nerves and/or placebo effect
What Risks Are Associated With TMR?
TMR requires a surgical procedure and there are risks associated with any surgery in general, including:
Risks normally associated with chest surgery, such as death, heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke, and heart failure.
Risk of disrupting the normal rhythm of the heart during and/or after the procedure.
It is important that you understand the risks and benefits of this procedure. If your doctor recommends that you have the TMR surgery, you will be asked to sign an additional informed consent which will explain these risks and benefits.
Your doctor will discuss all the risks and benefits of surgery and the TMR procedure with you.
What Follow-Up Will I Receive?
Your follow-up requirements for recovery after a TMR procedure are similar to those following other heart surgeries. You will undergo regular check-ups by your physician. Your physician will advise you when you may return to your normal activities.
Is TMR Covered By My Insurance?
TMR is approved for Medicare reimbursement, and is routinely covered by private insurance companies.
Is TMR Effective?
In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TMR as a safe and effective treatment for reducing severe angina and improving the quality of life for patients suffering from advanced coronary artery disease. More than 30,000 TMR procedures have been performed since 1999. Clinical results have demonstrated TMR's effectiveness with more than 75% of patients receiving benefit.
These important patient benefits have been shown to endure beyond five years, and may help patients live longer.
TMR may not be indicated for you if:
You are unable to undergo general anesthesia.
You have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) within three weeks.
You have uncontrollable or severe heart rhythm problems.
You have debilitating chronic lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which significantly impairs your ability to breathe.
You have heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, usually associated with shortness of breath due to "fluid in the lungs" or with swelling in the lower extremities.
At Lubbock Heart Surgery it's our goal to make sure you understand how TMR may help you manage your severe angina. Please contact us either by phone or through our website and we will be more than happy to visit with you. To learn more about Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR) visit this informational website on this topic. www.heartofnewlife.com
|
