Long-term effects of spinal cord stimulation on angina symptoms and quality of life in patients with refractory angina pectoris--results from the European Angina Registry Link Study (EARL).

Objective: To assess the long-term effect of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on angina symptoms and quality of life in patients with refractory angina pectoris defined as severe angina due to coronary artery disease resistant to conventional pharmacological therapy and/or revascularisation.

Methods: During 2003-2005, all patients with refractory angina referred for SCS treatment at 10 European centres were consecutively included in the European registry for refractory angina (European Angina Registry Link, EARL), a prospective, 3-year follow-up study. In the present study, the SCS-treated patients were followed-up regarding angina symptoms and quality of life assessed was with a generic (Short Form 36, SF-36) and a disease-specific (Seattle Angina Questionnaire, SAQ) quality of life questionnaire.

Fatality, morbidity and quality of life in patients with refractory angina pectoris.

Background: Refractory angina pectoris has been defined as coronary artery disease and severe angina, not available for further conventional pharmacological treatment or for revascularization procedures. The aim of the study was to assess fatality, morbidity and quality of life in patients with refractory angina.

Methods: Patients with refractory angina were prospectively identified at seven centres and were compared with an age and gender matched group of patients accepted for revascularization due to severe angina.

White matter disease in magnetic resonance imaging predicts cerebral complications after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess neurologic and neuropsychologic complications in 104 patients randomized to coronary artery bypass grafting or spinal cord stimulation. An additional objective of the study was to assess whether preoperative white matter disease might predict cerebral complications, as previous studies have shown that there is a relationship between white matter disease and neuropsychologic decline after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: The patients were subjected to neurologic examination before and six months after intervention.