TREATMENT OF NOCTURNAL ANGINA WITH 10° REVERSE TRENDELENBURG BED POSITION

The effect of 10° reverse Trendelenburg tilt of the bed was studied in ten patients with refractory nocturnal angina on 2 consecutive nights before aortocoronary bypass surgery. For the control night the bed was placed in the semi-orthopnoeic position, and for the test night it was put in the reverse Trendelenburg position. This position significantly reduced central venous pressure, diastolic pulmonary artery pressure, the number of isosorbide dinitrate tablets taken sublingually, and the number of angina episodes per night. Reverse Trendelenburg tilt of the bed therefore seems effective for relief of nocturnal anginal pain.