Alternative therapy for medically refractory angina: enhanced external counterpulsation and transmyocardial laser revascularization.

Medically refractory angina pectoris (RAP) is defined by presence of severe angina with objective evidence of ischemia and failure to relieve symptoms with coronary revascularization. Medication and invasive revascularization are the most common approaches for treating coronary artery disease (CAD). Although symptoms are eliminated or alleviated by these invasive approaches, the disease and its causes are present after treatment. New treatment approaches are needed to prevent the disease from progressing and symptoms from recurring. External enhanced counterpulsation therapy provides a treatment modality in the management of CAD and can complement invasive revascularization procedures. Data support that it should be considered a first-line treatment of RAP.