The EECP therapy treatment compresses the blood vessels in the lower limbs to increase blood flow to your heart, gently but firmly in a painless way. Each wave of pressure is timed to the heartbeat, measured electronically so that the increased blood flow is delivered to your heart at the precise moment it is relaxing. When the heart pumps again, pressure is released instantaneously. This lowers resistance in the blood vessels in the legs so that blood may be pumped more easily from your heart. EECP could encourage blood vessels to open small channels that become extra branches. These channels or collaterals may eventually become “natural bypass” vessels to provide blood flow to heart muscle. This also contributes to the relief of angina symptoms. EECP improves anginal symptoms and exercise tolerance, and reduces nitroglycerin use in patients with chronic, stable angina.
EECP uses three sets of pneumatic cuffs that sequentially contract during diastole, increasing aortic diastolic pressure, augmenting coronary blood flow and central venous return.. EECP has also been shown to be safe and beneficial in patients with symptomatic stable congestive heart failure. It has been postulated that cardiac benefits of EECP are mediated though vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide mediated vasodilatation and angiogenesis. In June 2002, the FDA also approved EECP therapy for heart failure patients.
Who is a suitable candidate for EECP?
You are the right candidate if you:
- Have chronic stable angina
- Are not receiving adequate relief from angina by taking nitrates
- Do not qualify as a candidate for invasive procedures (bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stenting)