PTMR?

A few weeks ago i posted my intentions on having a "redo" CABG in an effort to attempt 4-5 bypass graphs. Having the first CABG in 1988 (X-6), and having all but 1 of the graphs completely occluded (but the mammary), left me with little choice but to try this surgery again.
However, the "redo" which took place on 08/23/99 didn't turn out as well as expected, and no graphs could be done. This leaves me with the same mammary graph to supply the heart (all it can) with the needed nourishment. There is no blood supply to the circumflex at all.
I have read and researched TMR plus PTMR for quite a while now, but i'm still not sure of how long the channels remain open from this type surgery.
I am wondering if anyone at the Cleveland Clinic can tell me of any documentation concerning this issue, and if so how long. The surgeon wants me to travel up north to have the PTMR laser surgery as soon as i have recovered from this latest CABG attempt.
Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Best Wishes,
Don........RANGERDOOD

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Hi Don,

I'm sorry to hear the surgery didn't go better for you.  PTMR uses tiny lasers to "drill" holes into the heart and is currently only an experimental procedure.  The patient must have failed conventional therapy and have evidence of ischemia on PET scan to be eligible.  The holes do not actually stay open but instead stimulate new blood vessel growth.  

The laser can be  introduced during open heart surgery or through a tiny tube inserted through the leg.  If  you or someone you know is interested in participating in an ongoing study of PTMR here at the Cleveland Clinic please call the number below and ask for Marsha Lowery at extension 40052

[DURBA]

A related discussion, PTMR was started.