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VERNON
MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE
EECP
- Enhanced External Counterpulsation Therapy
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A
new outpatient treatment program for people with
angina or heart failure is now available at Vernon
Memorial Healthcare. Enhanced External Counterpulsation
(EECP) therapy is a safe and effective noninvasive
treatment that helps relieve chest pain and other
symptoms of angina and can also relieve the symptoms
of heart failure which include trouble breathing
and feeling very tired even after a small amount
of effort.
EECP therapy works by increasing the blood
and oxygen supply to the heart muscle and decreasing
the amount of work the heart has to do to pump
blood to the rest of the body. During the treatment,
you lie on a comfortable treatment table with
large blood pressure-like cuffs wrapped around
your legs and buttocks. These cuffs inflate at
specific times between your heart beats. A continuous
electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to set the timing
so the cuffs inflate while the heart is at rest,
when it normally gets its supply of blood and
oxygen. The cuffs deflate at the end of that
rest period, just before the next heart beat.
The special sensor applied to your finger checks
the oxygen level in your blood and the EECP system
monitors the pressure waves created by the cuff
inflations and deflations.
Your medical provider will examine you and
review your medical history to determine if you
are
a candidate for EECP therapy. The therapy takes
place in the Vernon Memorial Hospital Cardiopulmonary
Diagnostics and Rehab Department. Department
Manager, Bonnie Anderson, says EECP therapy does
not require a hospital stay, has no recovery
period, and allows you to return to your routine
each day after receiving treatment. Treatments
are usually given for an hour each day, five
days a week, for a total of 35 hours. EECP therapy
is often described as being like “passive
exercise”, so you may feel tired after
the first few days of treatment. Each patient
responds differently, but most patients report
they begin to feel better and have more energy
about halfway through the seven weeks.
Most patients experience positive results such
as: having no angina or angina that is less frequent
and less intense, having more energy, being able
to take part in more activities of daily living
with no angina or heart failure symptoms, enjoying
a better quality of life, and having a more positive
outlook. The International EECP Patient Registry
collects data on the safety, effectiveness, and
long term benefits of EECP therapy. Data has
shown that benefits of EECP therapy can last
up to three years after completing the first
course (35 hours) of treatment. Other smaller
studies have shown the benefits last up to five
years in some patients.
Medicare covers EECP treatments for patients
who meet the Medicare criteria. Most private
insurance companies have coverage policies similar
to Medicare.
Email
the Cardiac Department |
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