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Non-invasive treatment for angina, chest pain, coronary artery disease, and heart failure
EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation) is a non-invasive therapy that improves blood flow to the heart by using inflatable cuffs around the legs to enhance circulation. Physicians usually treat coronary artery blockage by medicine, angioplasty, and stent or bypass surgery. Despite these therapeutic advances certain problems in the treatment of chest pain persist. Drugs do not always provide relief and invasive procedures have their own associated risks.
Many a time the blood flow which is restored across the blocked arteries may fail again causing angina. The searches for effective treatment, which can increase the blood flow again by alternative pathway, decreases the chest pain and improve the quality of life without complicated invasive procedures, has yielded The new treatment called Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP). This is the only non-invasive, non- pharmaceutical treatment approved by FDA.
EECP is an outpatient treatment for patients suffering from chest pain and poor heart function. During the treatment the patient lies on a comfortable with large BP machine-like cuff wrapped around his/her legs and buttocks. These cuffs inflate and deflate at specific times between patient’s heart beats.
A continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to set the timing so the cuffs inflate while the heart is at rest, when it normally gets its supply of blood and oxygen. The cuffs deflate at the end of the rest heart beat. The special sensor applied to your finger checks the oxygen level in your blood and monitors the pressure waves created by the cuff inflations and deflation.
Patients with chronic angina, heart failure, coronary artery disease (CAD), or those unsuitable for bypass surgery or stents can benefit from EECP.
EECP uses pressure cuffs on the legs that inflate and deflate in sync with the heartbeat, increasing blood supply to the heart and improving circulation.
EECP uses pressure cuffs on the legs that inflate and deflate in sync with the heartbeat, increaNo, EECP is a painless, non-invasive procedure. Some patients may feel mild discomfort due to the pressure cuffs but usually adjust within a few sessions.sing blood supply to the heart and improving circulation.
EECP is generally safe, but some patients may experience mild leg bruising, muscle soreness, or fatigue during the initial sessions.
Yes, EECP is FDA-approved for treating chronic stable angina, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.
Studies show that 75-80% of patients experience reduced angina, improved exercise capacity, and better quality of life after EECP.
EECP can be an alternative for patients who are not candidates for surgery or stents, but it does not replace these procedures for severe blockages.
EECP is not recommended for patients with severe valve disease, uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmias, recent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or pregnancy.
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