External Counter Pulsation Technique

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No More Intense Chest Pains! Try External Counter Pulsation Technique (ECP)

The external counter pulsation assists the heart in its work. Surprising? It improves the blood and oxygen flow into the heart thereby making the job of the heart easy. It works as a form of angina pain relief. It has the potentiality to lower the risk of heart attacks. Sometimes even after a person's contract with the risk of heart attack, this treatment is given.

This article covers

When Is External Counter Pulsation Used?
Course of Treatment for EECP
Preparation for EECP Treatment
After EECP Treatment
Benefits Of EECP Treatment

Enhanced external counter pulsation treatment (or EECP treatment) is a type of treatment for angina pectoris. It increases the blood flow and oxygen into the heart, and reduces the work that the heart has to do. It also improves circulation and strengthens the cardiopulmonary system. It involves wearing a pressure suit which inflates cuffs on the leg, forcing blood back to the heart.

When Is External Counter Pulsation Used?

External counter pulsation treatment is a form of angina treatment. It works as a form of angina pain relief. It can also relieve the symptoms of coronary artery disease and lower the risk of a heart attack. When people suffer from bad chest pains because of angina, EECP may be used to reduce the intensity and frequency of angina, and reduce the need for pain or other medication. It may also be used when a person is considered at risk for a heart attack and it is believed that EECP treatment might help.

Course of Treatment for EECP

During EECP treatment, the patient needs to wear a special pressure suit. This suit contains a number of air cuffs, which are placed on the legs. The patient has one cuff on the calves and two on the thighs. When the heart is at rest, the cuffs are inflated. This compresses the blood vessels in the legs and forces the blood back to the heart. The treatment is usually conducted on a daily basis, over six to seven weeks. Each session may last between one and two hours.

The inflation of the cuffs needs to occur when the heart is at rest. In order to do this, the heart needs to be monitored by an electrocardiogram. This sends the information to a computer that regulates when the cuffs are inflated.

Preparation for EECP Treatment

Before EECP treatment begins, there will need to be a consultation to establish whether EECP treatment will be beneficial and whether the patient has any risk factors that make the treatment inappropriate.

For the treatment sessions, patients need to wear tight-fitting clothes. Weight, blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate will be measured before the treatment begins. A record of the patient’s symptoms will also be reviewed to see whether the treatment is having any beneficial effect.

After EECP Treatment

After the treatment, the patient is free to resume their normal activities. They may feel more tired than usual when treatment begins. They will often be asked to take a record of their angina pain and their general feeling of well-being after each treatment.

Very few people suffer side effects when undergoing EECP treatment. Some of the side effects that have been experienced are: