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[Effects of extracorporeal cardiac shock wave therapy in patients with ischemic heart failure]

Yun-zhu Peng1, Tao Guo, Ping Yang

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, China.

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi
|April 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Extracorporeal cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) improved symptoms, cardiac function, and exercise tolerance in patients with ischemic heart failure. This non-invasive treatment offers a safe and effective option for managing this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Medical Devices

Context:

  • Ischemic heart failure (IHF) significantly impacts patient quality of life and prognosis.
  • Current treatment options for IHF have limitations in improving cardiac function and exercise capacity.
  • Non-invasive therapeutic modalities are sought to enhance treatment strategies for IHF.

Purpose:

  • To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of extracorporeal cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) in patients diagnosed with ischemic heart failure.
  • To evaluate the impact of CSWT on clinical symptoms, cardiac function, and exercise tolerance in IHF patients.

Summary:

  • Fifty IHF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% were randomized to CSWT or a control group.
  • CSWT involved 9 sessions over 3 months, with myocardial viability assessed using SPECT.
  • Improvements in NYHA class, CCS score, SAQ, 6 MWT, LVEF, LVEDD, and reduced nitroglycerin use were observed in the CSWT group at 1 month.

Impact:

  • CSWT demonstrated significant improvements in symptom burden, quality of life, and exercise tolerance in IHF patients.
  • The therapy proved to be a safe and feasible non-invasive option, with no procedural complications reported.
  • CSWT emerged as an independent factor for enhanced cardiac function and echocardiographic parameters, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic approach.
Abstract

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