Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Treatment of Severe Angina Pectoris Refractory to Maximal Medical and Surgical Management—A Case Report
Restricted accessOtherFirst published online May, 1990
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for Treatment of Severe Angina Pectoris Refractory to Maximal Medical and Surgical Management—A Case Report
This report describes the use of a transcutaneous nerve stimulator for the treatment of severe angina pectoris in a young man refractory to maximal medical management after coronary angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery. Its successful use resulted in a marked clinical improvement and an impressive reduction in hospitalizations and other utilization of health care resources. Consideration for use of a transcutaneous nerve stimulator should be given in similar patients when all other accepted medical and surgical treatment modalities fail to provide adequate pain control.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Long DM, Hagfors N.: Electrical stimulation in the nervous system for relief of pain. Pain1:109-123, 1975.
2.
Loeser JD, Black RG, Christman A.: Relief of pain by transcutaneous stimulation. J Neurosurg41:308-314, 1975.
3.
Gersh MR, Wolf SL: Applications of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator in the management of patients with pain. State-of-the-art-update. Phys Therap65:314-336, 1985.
4.
Sheps DS, Adams KF, Hinderliter A.: Endorphins are related to pain perception in coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol59:523-527, 1987.
5.
Akil H., Richardson DE, Burchas JD, et al: Appearance of beta-endorphin like immunoreactivity in human ventricular cerebrospinal fluid upon analgesic electrical stimulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA75:5170-5172, 1978 .
6.
Sjorlund B., Terenius L., Ericksson M.: Increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of endorphins after electro-acupuncture . Acta Physiol Scand100:382-384, 1977.
7.
Clement-Jones V., Tomlon S., Rees LH, et al: Increased beta-endorphin but not metenkephalin levels in human cerebrospinal fluid after acupuncture for recurrent pain. Lancet2:946-949, 1980.
8.
Goodman CE: Pathophysiology of pain. Arch Intern Med143:527-530, 1983.
9.
Mannheimer C. , Carlsson CA, Ericson K., et al: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in severe angina pectoris. Eur Heart J3:297-302, 1982.
10.
Mannheimer C., Carlsson CA, Emanuelsson H., et al: The effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in patients with severe angina pectoris. Circulation71:308-316, 1985.
11.
Mannheimer C., Augustinsson L-E., Carlson C-A., et al: Epidural spinal electrical stimulation in severe angina pectoris. Br Heart J59:56-61, 1988.
12.
Augustinsson LE, Carlsson CA, Holm J., et al: Epidural electrical stimulation in severe limb ischemia. Evidence of pain relief, increased blood flow and a possible limb-saving effect. Ann Surg202:104-110, 1985.
13.
Cook AW, Oygar A., Baggentos P., et al: Vascular disease of extremities. Electrical stimulation of spinal cord and posterior roots. NY State J Med76:366-368, 1976.
14.
Kaada B.: Vasodilation induced by transcutaneous nerve stimulation in peripheral ischemia (Raynaud's phenomenon and diabetic polyneuropathy). Eur Heart J3:303-314, 1982.
15.
Apthorp GH, Chamberlain A., Haywood GW: The effects of sympathectomy on the electrocardiogram and effort tolerance in angina pectoris. Br Heart J26:218-226, 1964.
