Coronary Sinus Reducer

[HectorsDad]

Hi folks. Really struggling with pain now from suspected/assumed MVA, following a heart attack.

Cardiologist has suggest led we consider a Coronary Sinus Reducer.

Anyone have experience of this?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi

I have looked closely at Coronary sinus reducers.

There are no randomised large scale studies into their use. One study only involves men with obstructive coronary artery disease not microvascular or vasospastic angina.

It could potentially make vasospasms worse. Once in it cannot be removed. It is an experimental technique at present.

There is a very strong placebo effect.

20% of patients did not respond. They only followed up the participants for a year. There were 50 patients, one death and a couple if heart attacks. These may have occurred anyway.

It is thought that by pooling the blood in the heart by delaying the blood returning into the venous blood supply they help prevent angina....nobody knows how they work.

MVA and VSA are very complex conditions which have multiple potential causes. A coronary sinus reducedr seems to be a very intrusive technique to try and address the dysfunction of blood vessels.

A leading heart hospital in London has tried so far without success to get funding for a study and are looking for participants into a trial which the manufacturers are supplying the reducers to the researchers for free.

interventions.onlinejacc.or...

tctmd.com/news/positive-rea...

Look very carefully at the conflict of interest one the authors has in this study.

Another alternative to consider is a Spinal cord stimulator which also has very few studies to support it's use for MVA or Vasospastic angina.

I would suggest that your Cardiologist confirms your diagnosis of MVA and or VSA before you decide what is going to be the best decision for you.

[Reikimaster21]

I’m waiting for coronary sinus reducer. I’ve read the good and bad. I attend Bradford Specialist clinic. On balance I have decided to go ahead as my quality of life is so bad. Pain levels so high and not responding to meds very well.

Both of my cardiologists are very positive about this Bradford is one of hospitals offering this treatment as an alternative when lots of other things just won’t/can’t work. Good luck

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Reikimaster21]

I really hope it works for you.

How long will you have to wait?

Have they offered a Spinal Cord stimulator?

That is another option.

My vasospastic angina is also resistant to treatment.

My Cardiology Prof is a specialist in vasomotion disorders and does not recommend coronary sinus reducers for those with VSA.

[HectorsDad]

Thanks for the comments. I understand (and I may insist) that nothing will be done until further tests etc have proved the diagnosis, although I think it may be a treatment if the conclusion is NOT microvascular.

I’m seeing the phrase ‘refractory angina’ used in relation to this device. Not sure where the boundaries lie, but I assume it is meaning non-responsive and/or unexplained :refractory = one not responsive to common modes of treatment, according to Wikipedia (unless they suspect my heart is made of heat proof bricks!)