E.C.P. - Enhanced Counter Pulsation

What is ECP?

ECP 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. This is accomplished by means of a computer, which triggers off the patient’s ECG so that the cuffs deflate just as each heartbeat begins, and inflate just as each heartbeat ends.

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

ECP has two potentially beneficial actions on the heart. First, the milking action of the leg cuffs increases the blood flow to the coronary arteries. (The coronary arteries, unlike other arteries in the body, receive their blood flow after each heartbeat instead of during each heartbeat. ECP, effectively, “pumps” blood into the coronary arteries.) Second, by its deflating action just as the heart begins to beat, ECP 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. Indeed, an invasive procedure that does the same thing, intra-aortic counter pulsation (IACP, in which a balloon-tipped catheter is positioned in the aorta, which then inflates and deflates in time with the heartbeat), has been in widespread use in intensive care units for decades, and its effectiveness in stabilizing extremely unstable patients is well known.

Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (ECP) is a superb, no surgical therapy for heart disease, angina, congestive heart failure, hypertension, stroke, neuropathy, and other medical problems.


The History of ECP


Invented in Boston in the late 1960s, ECP was effective in treating cardiogenic shock, or severe heart failure due to heart muscle damage, a condition that was otherwise almost uniformly fatal. The technique however was cumbersome, and fell out of favor while more intricate and expensive procedures such as cardiac bypass surgery came into use. Researchers in mainland China during the 1980s improved the technology and effectively treated patients with heart disease and stroke. In 1990 a brilliant physiologist named Dr. John Hui brought the technology back into the United States, and persuaded physicians at Stony Brook Hospital in New York to begin research. ECP proved so effective in reducing angina symptoms that the FDA approved it for the treatment of stable angina and many insurance including Medicare now reimburse for treatment. Today, ECP is also approved by the FDA to treat congestive heart failure, which is responsible for the highest number of hospitalizations in our country.

 

How It Works


ECP is completely noninvasive and requires no anesthesia or recovery time. A set of inflatable cuffs is placed around the legs and pelvis. The cuffs are sequentially inflated from the bottom up, under high pressure. This causes the arteries and veins in the lower extremities to collapse and forces the blood upwards toward the heart. A wave of pressure then proceeds into the heart and into the coronary arteries. The result is a significant increase in cardiac blood flow. After a series of treatments, usually 35, 1-hour in length, collateral blood vessels develop around the heart, creating a natural bypass around the occluded vessels. The response rate for patients suffering from angina is around 80 percent, with none of the risks of open-heart surgery or angioplasty. People who complete a series of ECP treatments often have fewer episodes of angina, reduce or eliminate their need for anti-angina medications, have greater exercise tolerance and improved endurance and have a greatly improved overall quality of life.

 

What Does It Feel Like?


ECP treatment is similar having a set of giant blood pressure cuffs on your legs. Since the cuffs are inflated and deflated in time to your heart beat, some patients compare treatment to a rhythmic massage. Most patients listen to music, read a book, or even take a relaxing nap while receiving ECP treatments. Many feel alert, rested and energetic after their treatment is over.

 

ECP for other Medical Conditions


Because it boosts circulation throughout the body, external counter pulsation is a general panacea. It is perhaps the most potent anti-aging therapy. It should be considered in any program to support individual well-being. There are numerous other benefits, since having counter pulsation is like adding a second heart to the body. Increased blood flow occurs in the brain, kidneys, intestines, and all other parts of the body. Complex hormonal interactions are stimulated, resulting in improved kidney function, lowering of blood pressure, increased energy, endurance, and sense of well-being. Patients with stroke have experienced much quicker improvement than would otherwise occur. Medications used for treating chest pain as well as high blood pressure may be reduced and sometimes completely eliminated. ECP is also effective in boosting athletic performance, providing a complete, passive cardiovascular workout, reducing lactic acid buildup and increasing blood and lymph flow in muscles.

Investigate ECP for improvement in any of the following area:

  1. Cardiac chest pain
  2. Congestive heart failure
  3. High blood pressure
  4. Cardio myopathy
  5. Peripheral neuropathy, especially from diabetes
  6. Stroke
  7. Peripheral vascular disease
  8. Impotence
  9. Edema, or venous insufficiency
  10. Chronic fatigue
  11. Intestinal vascular insufficiency
  12. Improvement of Athletic Performance

if you are interested in ECP thereapy for yourself, a friend, or family member please Contact us today.