Does an operation consisting of phenolization, instillation of talc, and pneumonopexy improve pain in patients with intractable angina pectoris?
De-epicardialization via phenolization, talc instillation, and pneumonopexy provided consistent pain relief in a small case series of patients with intractable angina.
Removal of the epicardium of the dog's heart with 95 per cent phenol permits anastomoses between pericardial vessels and the coronary arteries that are large enough to carry the Schlesinger mass (40 micra or larger). In 18 patients suffering from intractable angina pectoris an operation consisting of phenolization, instillation of talc and pneumonopexy has resulted in consistent relief of pain. The simplicity of the procedure exposes the patient to minimum risk of fresh thrombosis; its effectiveness justifies further trial.
Harken et al. (Thu,) studied this question.