Spinal cord stimulation has been used to treat intractable angina pectoris since 1985 with good results. Several studies have shown the treatment to yield both anti-anginal and antiischaemic effects. The mechanisms underlying these effects have been investigated in a number of studies, but remain unclear. In a recent randomised prospective study, where spinal cord stimulation was compared to coronary artery bypass surgery, both treatments yielded adequate relief of symptoms, and there was no subgroup difference in this respect. The article consists in a review of current trends in this field.