Immediate effect of Biosense guided percutaneous direct myocardial revascularization with holmium:yttrium aluminium garnet laser on myocardial contractility assessed by transesophageal echocardiography

Objective. To evaluate immediate changes in left ventricular wall motion in patients treated using Biosense direct myocardial revascularization laser system. Methods. Regional wall motion in 10 patients undergoing catheter-based direct myocardial revascularization using a holmium:yttrium aluminium garnet laser was assessed by transesophageal echocardiography before and immediately after the procedure. Results. Mild deterioration in wall-motion score occurred rarely for only three of 160 (1.9%) segments and did not induce clinical heart failure. Conclusion. With the current catheter-based laser myocardial revascularization strategy, mild deterioration in wall motion of treated segments was rarely observed and did not effect overall left ventricular function or induce clinical congestive heart failure. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.