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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1998;13:398-403
© 1998 Elsevier Science NL

Electron-microscopic findings after transmyocardial laser revascularization in an acute ischemic pig model¹

^a Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany
^b Institute of Anatomy, Medical University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany
^c Department of Anaesthesiology, Medical University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Alle 160, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany

Received 29 September 1997; received in revised form 12 January 1998; accepted 19 January 1998.

Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 500 2108; fax: +49 500 2051.

Objective: The clinical benefit in terms of angina reduction after transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease who are not candidates for conventional procedures has been proved. The exact mechanisms of TMLR however, are still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular changes in relation to intramyocardial partial oxygen pressure (p_tiO₂) after TMLR in a model of acute ischemia in pigs by electron microscopical methods (TEM). Methods: Seven pigs were included in this study (five animals with acute myocardial ischemia and additional TMLR and two animals with acute myocardial ischemia and without TMLR for control). Acute ischemia was induced by ligation of diagonal branches of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Intramyocardial partial oxygen pressure was measured before induction of ischemia and thereafter continuously for up to 6 h in all animals. Biopsies of all animals were taken before induction of ischemia and thereafter at 30 min, 3 and 6 h. Analysis of the myocardial ultrastructure was focused on mitochondria, cell nucleus, T-tubules and myofibrils. Results: Ultrastructural changes were seen in all animals. At 6 h after induction of ischemia, mitochondria showed a destruction of the internal as well as the external membrane and of the cristae. The nuclei showed margination of the chromatin. Myofibrils were characterized by ruptures in the Z-stripes. Lipid droplets as an indicator of ischemia could be identified. P_tiO₂ between 40 and 80 mmHg before intervention decreased down to 0–2 mmHg within the first 9 min after diagonal branch ligation and did not increase even after TMLR. Conclusions: In this acute ischemic model using pigs, TEM evaluation following TMLR proves irreversible changes of the myocardial ultrastructure. Furthermore, TMLR was not able to increase ischemically induced decrease of p_tiO₂. These data provide some evidence that TMLR thus, may not be able to ameliorate acute ischemia at least in the pig model. Further investigations are needed to investigate the effect of TMLR in chronic myocardial ischemia.

Key Words: Coronary artery disease • TMLR • Myocardial ultrastructure • Partial oxygen pressure