EECP a Non Invasive Treatment for Angina
Through EECP collateral arteries may be created
allowing the blood to flow to the heart relieving the pain.
Enhanced External Counter Pulsation is
a fairly new treatment that was created in China. It is a treatment
that is supposed to create microscopic collateral arteries that
are too small to be seen, but exist only based on patients testimonies.
These collateral arteries are used by the blood as alternative routes
to reach the heart. This is supposed to alleviate angina pains.
This is some of the information from the EECP website
that I found.
Enhanced External Counter Pulsation may stimulate
the opening, or formation of, small branches of blood vessels (collaterals)
to create natural bypass around narrowed or blocked arteries.
EECP is a noninvasive treatment that is applied
outside your body and does not require surgery, and some cases may
be an alternative for angioplasty.
The EECP system compresses your lower limbs to
increase blood flow toward your heart. Each wave of pressure is
electronically timed to your heartbeat, 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 of
your legs so that blood may be pumped more easily from the heart,
decreasing the amount of work required of your heart muscle.
During counter pulsation the EECP system pumps
when your heart is resting and releases pressure when your heart
is working.
Clinical Benefits of EECP
Clinical trials have confirmed the benefits of
EECP‘ treatment. They include: symptomatic relief of angina unresponsive
to medical therapy, improved blood flow to deprived areas of heart
muscle demonstrated by the results of thallium stress testing, elimination
or reduction of nitrate use, improved ability to exercise.
In a 3-year, follow-up study, the majority of
patients remained free of angina and showed persistent improvements
in their thallium scans. Patients and their families usually report
noticeably greater ability to engage in daily activity.
Patients usually receive EECP‘ treatment for
35 hours divided into one or two 60-minute treatment sessions five
days per week. Patients who undergo two treatment sessions in one
day rest between sessions.
The EECP Treatment
EECP‘ treatment uses unique equipment to inflate
and deflate a series of pneumatic compressive cuffs around the lower
extremities. Treatment is administered on a padded table where three
sets of electronically controlled inflation and deflation valves
are located.
These valves are connected to specially designed
adjustable cuffs that are wrapped firmly, but comfortably around
the patient's calves, lower thighs, and upper thighs, including
the buttocks.
The design of the cuffs permits significant pressure
to be applied to the arteries and veins at relatively low air pressures.
Timing for inflation and deflation is regulated by running electrocardiogram
signals through a microprocessor that monitors the treatment process.
While the heart is at rest the cuffs are inflated
in rapid sequence from the calves upward, creating a pressure wave
that increases diastolic pressure, coronary artery perfusion pressure,
and blood flow to the heart muscle.
This compression of the blood vessels in the
legs also increases the volume of blood returned to the right side
of the heart via the venous system. Instantaneous deflation of all
cuffs at the onset of the heart's contraction lowers the resistance
the heart must pump against, decreasing the heart's work load.
This latter effect, when coupled with increased
venous return, significantly raises cardiac output. The overall
effect is to increase the oxygen supply of the heart, while decreasing
its oxygen demand.
Significant obstruction in one or more coronary
arteries can create a pressure difference between areas of the heart
muscle that receive and those that do not receive enough blood.
Repeated and pulsed increases in pressure during
diastole may stimulate opening of collateral channels across this
pressure gradient within the heart muscle, resulting in increased
blood supply to deprived tissues.
How does EECP‘ treatment work?
The body has its own solution to an inadequate
blood supply caused by blocked or partially blocked arteries. When
an artery is severely narrowed, the body can increase the amount
of blood flowing to the heart muscle by opening up small branches
of nearby arteries. Known as collateral circulation, these networks
of blood vessels create new routes for blood to detour around clogged
arteries.
The development of a collateral circulation is
particularly important in the heart muscle where it may be life
saving. However, the development of collateral circulation is a
gradual process, and not everyone has the same ability to develop
these networks.
EECP‘ treatment appears to stimulate the natural
process of developing collateral circulation, but there are probably
other, yet unexplained, mechanisms that contribute to the long-lasting
effects of EECP‘ treatment.
If patients are one of more than seven million
people in the United States with angina, they may be all too familiar
with angina. Angina signals that a part of the heart muscle is not
receiving an adequate supply of blood and oxygen. The heart requires
a particularly rich blood supply because of its heavy workload,
and receives this nourishment through the coronary arteries. When
these vessels are narrowed or blocked, restricting blood flow, they
fail to supply adequate oxygen.
You can read more about it on their website EECP.
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