[Improvement of angina, quality of life, and working capacity after enhanced external counterpulsation]

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Maren Tarpgaard Jørgensen1, Ole May

  • 1Anæstesiologisk Afdeling, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Aalborg Sygehus, Denmark.

Ugeskrift for Laeger
|January 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) effectively treats angina pectoris in patients unsuitable for invasive procedures. This therapy significantly improved chest pain, reduced hospital admissions, and enhanced quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Non-invasive Cardiac Therapies

Background:

  • Recurrent chest pain (angina pectoris) significantly impacts quality of life.
  • Optimal medical management and invasive procedures are not suitable for all angina patients.
  • Myocardial scintigraphy can reveal reversible ischemia even with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Observation:

  • A 43-year-old woman experienced 15 hospital admissions over six years for chest pain.
  • Coronary angiography showed no significant stenoses, but myocardial scintigraphy indicated reversible ischemia.
  • Despite optimal medical treatment, she remained in Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class 3 with poor quality of life (QoL).

Findings:

  • Following enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), her CCS class improved to 1.
  • Significant improvements in QoL were observed post-EECP.
  • These benefits were sustained for three years, with only one subsequent hospital admission for chest pain.

Implications:

  • EECP is a viable and effective treatment option for refractory angina pectoris.
  • This therapy offers a non-invasive approach for patients ineligible for revascularization procedures.
  • EECP can lead to sustained improvements in symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life in selected patients.

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