Background:
Severe refractory angina pectoris can occur in end-stage coronary artery disease despite
maximal medical and revascularization therapy. Spinal cord stimulation is an under-utilized
but well-established modality for the treatment of intractable angina pain.
Aim:
To illustrate the practical, beneficial and effective use of spinal cord stimulation
as a treatment option for refractory angina in a local context.
Method:
A case series clinical audit of 11 patients with refractory angina treated with spinal
cord stimulation over a one-year period was carried out. Baseline, three-month, six-month
and two-year functional assessment data and subjective patient reports on their symptoms
were evaluated.
Results:
Spinal cord stimulation improves six-minute walk distance, exercise duration, New
York Heart Association functional class, Likert score, and number of angina free days
per week for at least one year over two years of follow-up.
Conclusion:
Spinal cord stimulation is an effective medium-term treatment option for refractory
angina pectoris with significant benefits to functional parameters and patient symptoms.
Spinal cord stimulation is an under-utilized but well-established modality for the
treatment of intractable angina pain. We report a small case series clinical audit
of patients who gained significant functional and symptomatic benefits from this treatment.
Keywords
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© 2005 Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.