Heart Hospital - Procedures

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP)

By the Cardiologists of Wisconsin Heart & Vascular Institute


If you are one of more than seven million people in the United States with angina, you may be all too familiar with its signs:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Faintness
• Pain in the chest, arm, neck or jaw

Usually triggered by physical exertion or emotional stress, angina occurs when the heart muscle needs more oxygen from the blood supply nourishing the heart. This usually happens because narrowed or blocked arteries are restricting the flow of blood to the heart muscle. For many people, angina interferes with their ability to work or engage in almost any activity.

Angina is usually controlled by one or more medications that either increase the supply of oxygen to the deprived heart muscle, or decrease the heart's demand for oxygen. Unfortunately, in most patients, medication becomes insufficiently effective over time.

Invasive procedures, such as angioplasty, are other viable options, particularly for patients who have unstable angina that does not respond promptly to medical treatment or severe recurrent episodes of angina that last more than 20 minutes.

A new treatment option is now available that has been shown to relieve angina in more than 75% of patients who use it. Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP®) is a noninvasive outpatient treatment that may relieve or eliminate angina by compressing the lower limbs to increase blood flow toward the heart. Each wave of pressure is electronically timed to a heartbeat, so that the increased blood flow is delivered to the heart at the precise moment it is relaxing. When the heart pumps again, pressure is released instantaneously.

This lowers resistance in the blood vessels of the legs so that blood may be pumped more easily from the heart, decreasing the amount of work required of the heart muscle. For many patients, who are not good candidates for percutaneous or surgical options, treatment can provide relief without pain or time for recovery. There is even some evidence that it produces actual cellular changes that benefit the heart. It is performed on an outpatient basis, which generally takes seven weeks to complete.

If you suffer from angina, consult with the Wisconsin Heart & Vascular Institute to determine the best course of action for your particular situation. If you suspect you might have a heart or related condition, it is a good idea to check with a cardiologist immediately.

To learn more about EECP®, visit Vasomedical's Web site.

6/16/2008