Attention! Cardiovascular Disease is Not Your Enemy (Anymore)

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive therapy approved by FDA for patients with refractory angina pectoris who are not fit for either coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or revascularization because of their unsuitable health condition. 2.4 million people in the US estimated with Cardiovascular Disease (CAD) are not suitable candidates for bypass or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).  In such patients, EECP can prove to be an effective alternative (Holmes, 2002).

The EECP’s action mechanism is similar to that of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) by administering a vigorous pressure pulse via external blood pressure cuffs during the diastole. Coronary blood flow during the diastole to the coronary arteries will be increased which has been proven with the help of Doppler and angiographic methods. Moreover, it was reasonable to hypothesize that EECP can stimulate the formation of new collateral vessels that can ultimately translate into long term symptomatic improvement of angina symptoms. (Jacobey, et.al., 1963).

EECP has been shown to improve the health-related quality of life in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CAD. The benefit of EECP includes improvement in angina severity, angina stability, maximal walking capacity and generalized improvement in overall health (Kumari., et al., 2015). According to a study performed by Jorgensen and May in 2013, the heart benefits on quality of life were shown to have been sustained for a period of three years. It was amazing to know that EECP could be one of those safe and efficient alternative for CAD patients.

In the previous study of EECP has shown a result that EECP has a significant beneficial effect on the exercise capacity and prolongs the patient’s ability to exercise for a longer period of time. Another study published that at 12-months follow-up after EECP, patients reported a significant improvement in the quality of life as measured by SF-35 and cardiac version of the Quality of Life Index. Based on Arora et al., (2002) the benefits of EECP were found similar to that of vigorous exercise, where collateral vessels are formed to improve coronary perfusion. The beneficial effects of EECP reported in two studies were sustained for a period of two years. Surprisingly, a postive results were attained. Fifty percent of the patients reported a significant improvement in their quality of life after EECP at two years to follow up (Michaels et al.,2003). Soran et al., (2004) conducted a study with sample of 364 patients reported a 72% improvement in the severity of angina from severe angina to no or mild angina along with a significant improvement in the quality of life after receiving EECP at 2 years of follow-up.

All of this researches have shown a conclusion that Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive alternative therapy for patients who are not fit for CABG or PCI. EECP is an effective treatment strategy that can improve the quality of life of patients and has a long-lasting effect and can lead to beneficial structural changes in the heart that can improve heart failure symptoms. In Bali, you could trust us whenever it comes to EECP. Our services are accompanied by professionals for 20 years. You would stand a chance for feeling significantly healthy and saying goodbye to the CAD problems and pain.