Treating Angina with EECP
We offer a new, noninvasive treatment for angina called Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP). In 70 percent of selected patients, EECP has shown to help manage angina, and its accompanying fatigue and shortness of breath.
Who Can be Treated with EECP
EECP has been shown to benefit angina patients who aren’t eligible for more traditional therapies.
You may be a candidate for EECP if any of the following information applies to you:
- Your doctor does not recommend other treatments, such as coronary artery bypass surgery and coronary angioplasty.
- Your quality of life is limited by frequently recurring chest discomfort or other symptoms caused by blockage, such as breathlessness with exertion.
- Attempts to control symptoms with medical therapy have been unsuccessful.
How EECP Works
EECP consists of a system of cuffs (similar to those for blood pressure) that are placed on your calves, thighs, and hips. The cuffs are timed to your heartbeat using a heart monitor. The cuffs inflate with air when your heart relaxes and deflate when your heart pumps.
EECP is a safe, outpatient treatment that’s done for one hour, five times a week, over a seven-week period.
Doctors believe EECP helps treat angina because it promotes collateral circulation, which is a "natural" bypass that lets the circulatory system "grow" around areas of blockage.
EECP’s Benefits
EECP has many benefits:
- 75 to 80 percent success rate
- Reduces or eliminates angina
- Noninvasive, outpatient treatment
- Increases energy
- Improves stamina
- Reduces the need for some medications
- Improves quality of life and outlook
- Increases daily activity capabilities with minimal or no heart disease symptoms
- Covered by most insurance providers, including Medicare
