Enhanced external counterpulsation for ischemic heart disease: what's behind the curtain?

The Effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation on Cardiac Electrophysiologic Properties of Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease and Refractory Angina at Function Class II-III.

INTRODUCTION Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive circulatory assist device that has been recently emerged as a treatment option for refractory angina or left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The aims of this study were to examine the effects of EECP on the elecrocardiographic parameters and the heart rate variability indices of patients with the coronary heart disease and fu...

Enhanced external counterpulsation in ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure.

Clinical Practice of EECP in Non-Cardiac Disease in China

Introduction Enhanced external counterpulsation is a technique using a set of cuffs that are wrapped around the lower part of the body. During treatment, pressure is sequentially applied via the cuffs to the lower extremities of the patient synchronized by cardiac cycle. At early diastole, pressure is applied sequentially from the lower legs to the lower and upper thighs, to propel blood back t...

Psychosocial effects of enhanced external counterpulsation in the angina patient: a second study.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive technique that has shown promise in the treatment of ischemic coronary artery disease. Patients undergoing EECP were tested for alterations in psychosocial state associated with treatment. Overall perception of health and quality of life improved with EECP. There was also significant improvement in levels of depression, anxiety, and som...

Treating heart failure with enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP): design of the Prospective Evaluation of EECP in Heart Failure (PEECH) trial.

BACKGROUND Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) treatment can improve exercise tolerance in patients with ischemic heart disease; however, the possible benefits of EECP in patients with stable heart failure (HF) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) are unclear. An open pilot study showed significant increases in exercise tolerance in HF patients undergoing EECP. Thus a larger, controlled...