EECP®-A NEW TREATMENT FOR ANGINA AND HEART FAILURE


More than seven million people in the United States suffer from angina while nearly five million are affected by heart failure and they typically suffer from symptoms that can greatly affect their quality of life. A treatment called Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP®) has shown that it can help a significant number of these people.
Angina occurs when a person’s heart muscle is not receiving an adequate supply of blood flow. The symptoms of angina vary among people but most commonly cause chest pain, shortness of breath or fatigue. Angina is caused by blockages in the arteries that supply the heart with blood and oxygen. Many times these blockages are treated with medications, angioplasty, coronary stents or bypass surgery. In some patients angina symptoms continue despite these treatments.
Heart failure results when the muscle of the heart weakens and needs to work harder to keep the blood flowing through the body. Heart failure is commonly caused by blocked arteries to the heart muscle or a heart attack. As a result, people with heart failure commonly feel symptoms of angina as well.
EECP® is a non-invasive, outpatient treatment that can relieve or eliminate symptoms of angina by improving the circulation to the heart muscle. EECP® treatment appears to stimulate the opening of, or formation of, small new branches of blood vessels. These new blood vessels, also called collaterals, can create a natural bypass around narrowed or blocked arteries. As a result, after EECP® treatment patients may find that:
• they can walk farther and do more activities without having angina symptoms
• they have fewer episodes of angina
• when they do have angina, the episode is less intense
• they need less anti-anginal medication
• they are able to participate in social activities without worrying about angina.

The EECP® system works by compressing the lower limbs to increase the blood flow toward the heart. A set of inflatable cuffs are wrapped around the calves, thighs and buttocks. Three electrodes are applied to the chest to take a constant ECG recording. The system then times each compression to occur at the precise moment that the heart is relaxing. When the heart prepares to pump again, the pressure in the cuffs is released instantaneously which allows the blood to be pumped from the heart more easily and decreases the amount of work required by the heart muscle. In summary, the system pumps when your heart is resting and releases when the heart is working.
The treatment schedule entails a one-hour treatment session once a day, five days a week for seven weeks. It is important to complete a total of 35 successive treatments. This may seem somewhat taxing; however, in most cases people can experience relief from symptoms for over a year after completion of the treatments.
If you have angina or heart failure and suffer from symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath or fatigue, you may benefit from EECP®. Only a physician can make the decision whether or not EECP® can benefit you. Talk to your physician about EECP® if:
• you have symptoms of angina (chest pain, shortness of breath or fatigue)
• your current medications are not controlling your angina symptoms
• you have been told that you are not a candidate for bypass surgery or angioplasty
• you underwent bypass surgery or angioplasty in the past and the angina has returned
• you want to explore all treatment options.

EECP® has received clearance from the FDA to treat both angina and heart failure. In addition, Medicare and most other insurances are now authorizing payment for this treatment. As a result, people suffering from these debilitating symptoms now have a new hope for relief and an improved quality of life.

Gina Flaharty RN, BSN, FNP is affiliated with the Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates located in the Sacramento Heart Center. For more information about the Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates, visit their website at www.sacheart.com or call (916) 830-2000 and request information be mailed to you. Please address your cardiology-related questions to “Ask the Cardiologist”, 500 University Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825. Selected questions will be answered in future columns.