What is enhanced external counterpulsation?
Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a procedure
in which blood pressure cuffs are put on your legs, and
inflated and deflated. The sequence of the inflation and
deflation is timed with the beating of your heart. EECP
is used to treat angina (chest pain).
When is it used?
EECP may be used if you still have angina after treatment
with medicine, bypass surgery, or angioplasty.
The procedure may not help if you have:
- high blood pressure despite treatment for it
- a fast heart rate
- problems with the circulation in your legs
- heart valve problems
- heart failure.
How does it work?
How EECP works is not well understood. It is thought that
EECP forces slightly more blood into the blood vessels
supplying the heart. Over time, this causes more blood
vessels to grow in the heart muscle. Because angina is
caused by the heart muscle not getting enough blood,
growth of more blood vessels helps relieve angina.
How do I prepare for the procedure?
You may be more comfortable if you wear athletic tights
or bicycle pants that don't bunch up under the blood
pressure cuffs. It is a good idea to urinate before the
procedure. If you take diuretics, you might want to
delay taking them until after the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
Most people are treated for 1 hour per day, 5 days a
week, for 7 weeks, but your healthcare provider may
change this plan. You lie on a table with a blood
pressure cuff wrapped around each calf, and 2 cuffs
placed around each thigh. The cuffs are connected to
a device that inflates and deflates the cuffs, starting
with the calf and moving upward with each heart beat.
The procedure should not be painful.
What are the benefits of the procedure?
Most people treated with EECP have less angina
than they did before the treatments began. The benefits
may last for many months or several years.
What are the risks associated with the procedure?
There are few side effects or complications. You might
have some irritation or bruising of the skin.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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