Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Academic Term
Summer 2015
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 5330
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology
Professor’s Name
John D. Chovan, James R. Cacchillo
Keywords
Coronary Heart Disease, Treatment, Patient Outcomes
Subject Categories
Cardiovascular Diseases | Medical Pathology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Abstract
According to the literature, coronary heart disease (CHD) is responsible for 370,000 deaths annually in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). A symptom commonly associated with CHD is angina (US Department of Health & Human Services, National Institute of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [NIH], 2011). An estimated 300,000 to 900,000 patients in the United States have refractory angina pectoris (RAP), with nearly 100,00 new cases diagnosed yearly (Manchanda, Aggarwal, Aggarwal, & Soran, 2011). Kones describes refractory angina as continued angina class III/IV, in the nonsurgical candidate, with objective evidence of ischemia despite optimum medical treatment (Kones, R., 2010). Many medications are available for the treatment of angina. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are often useful in the reduction of angina pain. Angioplasty and life changes such as smoking cessation, weight loss, and stress reduction are additional treatment options for the patient suffering from chronic angina (Mayo Clinic, 2015). Despite endless treatment options, chronic angina continues to pose significant challenges to both patient and medical professional. The patient diagnosed with chronic angina frequently suffers from anxiety, fear, pain, and decreased quality of life. According to the literature, a continual challenge of modern cardiovascular medicine is to discover new, effective treatments for patients with refractory angina pectoris, a clinical condition characterized by severe angina despite optimal medical therapy (Gennari, Gambini, Bassetti, Capogrossi, & Pompilio, 2014). Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is approved for the management of refractory angina. EECP has proven beneficial in the decrease of anginal symptoms, decreased nitroglycerin use, and improvement of exercise tolerance (Sharma, Ramsey, & Tak, 2013). A 62 year old
Recommended Citation
Jones, Valerie, "Effects of Enhanced External Counter Pulsation Therapy on Patients with Angina" (2015). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 125.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/125