The effectiveness of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) in patients suffering from chronic refractory angina previously treated with transmyocardial laser revascularisation

摘要

Despite advances in surgical and interventional cardiology, up to a third of the patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease are not suitable for or cannot be fully revascularised [1,2]. These patients have poor quality of life and high morbidity and mortality [1,3-5]. The management of these patients with chronic refractory angina is challenging, but there is no consensus in major guidelines to address their unmet needs [2]. Depending on local expertise and availability, many have resolved to alternative treatment methods, including enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), myocardial laser revascu-larisation (TMR), spinal cord stimulation and others. However, when one method has failed, it is unclear whether the others would be effective.EECP is a repeatable, safe, effective and technically simple technique to improve angina control, exercise tolerance, myocardial perfusion and quality of life in patients with refractory angina with sustained long-term benefit.