Continued symptomatic improvement three to five years after transmyocardial revascularization with CO(2) laser: a late clinical follow-up of the Norwegian Randomized trial with transmyocardial revascularization.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to assess late clinical outcome and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after transmyocardial revascularization with CO(2) laser (TMR).

Background: During the 1990s TMR emerged as a treatment option for patients with refractory angina not eligible for conventional revascularization. Few reports exist on clinical effects and LVEF >3 years after TMR.

Methods: One hundred patients with refractory angina not eligible for conventional revascularization were block-randomized 1:1 to receive continued medical treatment or medical treatment combined with TMR. The patients were evaluated at baseline and after 3, 12 and 43 (range: 32 to 60) months with end points to angina, hospitalizations due to acute myocardial infarctions or unstable angina, heart failure and LVEF. Mortality was registered and MOS 36 Short-Form Health Survey answered at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months.

Results: Forty-three months after TMR, angina symptoms were still significantly improved, and unstable angina hospitalizations reduced by 55% (p < 0.001). Heart failure treatment (p < 0.01) increased, whereas the number of acute myocardial infarctions, LVEF and mortality was not affected. Quality of life was improved 3, 6 and 12 months after TMR.

Conclusions: Forty-three months after TMR, angina symptoms and hospitalizations due to unstable angina were significantly reduced, heart failure treatment increased and LVEF and mortality were seemingly unaffected.