Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP)

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a procedure performed on individuals with ischemic cardiomyopathy (patients who have congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease) in order to:
•  diminish the symptoms of their ischemia,
•  relieve angina (chest pain due to a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply to the heart muscle),
•  improve exercise tolerance, and
•  decrease the degree of ischemia in a cardiac stress test.

EECP is usually reserved as a "last resort" treatment for individuals with symptoms of ischemic cardiomyopathy who are not amenable to percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery . It is typically only performed on individuals who continue to have symptoms while on the maximum tolerated doses of conventional medications. To meet these criteria, the individual must have coronary artery disease that includes at least one vessel with at least a 70 percent obstruction. In addition, the individual must have evidence of either an infarction or significant ischemia on a stress test with some form of imaging (i.e. nuclear or echocardiographic imaging). In addition, individuals with advanced heart failure due to an ischemic etiology may benefit from EECP.

Research data have shown EECP to be quite effective in treating chronic stable angina, improve exercise tolerance and improve quality of life. This improvement in symptoms following a course of EECP may persist for up to five years. Some research studies suggest that EECP may be useful in treating unstable angina, as adjunctive therapy after revascularization (i.e., with angioplasty, stent, and/or bypass surgery), and even as first-line (instead of last resort) therapy for more routine forms of angina.

How does EECP work?

EECP is a mechanical procedure in which long inflatable cuffs (like blood pressure cuffs) are wrapped around both of the patient’s legs. While the patient lies on a bed, the leg cuffs are inflated and deflated with each heartbeat.

When the cuffs inflate they do so in a sequential fashion, so that the blood in the legs is "milked" upwards, toward the heart.

EECP has two benefits on the heart. First, the milking action of the leg cuffs increases the blood flow to the coronary arteries. Second, by its deflating action just as the heart begins to beat, EECP creates something like a sudden vacuum in the arteries, which reduces the work of the heart muscle in pumping blood into the arteries. Both of these actions have long been known to reduce cardiac ischemia (the lack of oxygen to the heart muscle) in patients with coronary artery disease.

EECP is administered as a series of outpatient treatments. Patients receive 5 one-hour sessions per week, for 7 weeks (for a total of 35 sessions). The 35 one-hour sessions are aimed at provoking long lasting beneficial changes in the circulatory system.

Read about other heart procedures . 

Read testimonials of patients who have had their cardiac surgeries overseas . 

Cost of the procedure

For affordable treatment of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), contact Healthbase . Healthbase is an award-winning medical tourism facilitator connecting patients to low cost high quality healthcare abroad . Login or register to Healthbase for more information about enhanced external counterpulsation in India , Singapore and other medical tourism destinations .