Question: 1
What are the advantages of EECP ( Enhanced External Counter Pulsation )?
Answer: 1
ECP is safe, effective, and well-tolerated. Occasionally, some patients complain of mild skin abrasion or bruising under the cuffs of tires. To avoid this, the patient wears special elastic pants and certificate EECP therapist placed padding as necessary to make the patient comfortable.
Enhanced ECP therapy is non-invasive, does not require a hospital stay, no recovery period, and allows you to return to your routine each day after receiving treatment.
Most patients experience positive results, such as the following:
- 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 little or no angina or heart failure symptoms
- Enjoying a better quality of life
- Having a more positive outlook
Watch how EECP is effective .
Question: 2
Is there an age limit for EECP®?
Answer: 2
No. Patients as young as thirty and as old as ninety-five have successfully completed EECP without any complications. Many of our patients are in their eighties and older and have excellent results
Question: 3
Is enhanced EECP treatment comfortable?
Answer: 3
There is a feeling of pressure from the cuffs around your legs and buttocks. Once you become accustomed to this pressure, the sessions usually pass comfortably.
Question: 4
Can everyone have enhanced ECP therapy?
Answer: 4
Your doctor knows your medical history and conditions and will determine if you can have enhanced ECP therapy.
Question: 5
What are the risks of enhanced ECP Therapy?
Answer: 5
Occasionally, patients develop mild skin irritation in the areas under the treatment cuffs or experience muscle or joint discomfort. Some patients feel tired after the first few treatments but this usually ends after the first week. Rarely, patients develop shortness of breath requiring hospitalization and treatment. Your enhanced ECP therapist is trained to make your treatments safe and to minimize risk.
Question: 6
Does insurance cover enhanced EECP Therapy?
Answer: 6
Yes, Medicare covers enhanced EECP treatments for the patients who meet the Medicare criteria. Most private insurance companies have coverage policies similar to Medicare.
Question: 7
How will I feel after the treatment?
Answer: 7
Enhanced ECP Therapy is often described as being like “ passive exercise” so you may feel tired after a few days of treatment. This is normal, especially if you haven’t been exercising. Usually, once this short “ training period” is over you will begin to notice that you have more energy.
Question: 8
When can I expect to feel improvement?
Answer: 8
Each patient responds differently. Most patients report beginning to feel better about halfway through the seven weeks.
Question: 9
How long do the benefits of enhanced ECP Therapy last after a course of treatment?
Answer: 9
The international enhanced ECP Patient Registry ( IERP) collects data on the safety, effectiveness, and long-term benefits of enhanced ECP Therapy. The IEPR data have shown that the benefits of enhanced ECP Therapy and last up to three years after completing the first course ( 40 hours ) of treatment. Other smaller studies have shown the benefits last up to five years in some patients.
Question: 10
Can I have therapy more than once?
Answer: 10
Yes. If your symptoms return, your doctor will decide if you need to repeat your enhanced ECP treatments.
Question: 11
Can a patient with peripheral artery disease have EECP?
Answer: 11
Yes. EECP improves blood flow throughout the entire body, including the lower extremities. In our experience, patients with this condition –if not severe- may require more than 35 EECP sessions to obtain the full benefit of the therapy. We have documented with arterial Doppler studies the circulation of the lower extremities, before and after EECP in some patients with diabetes -with marked improvement in response to EECP.
Question: 12
What happens if a patient misses an EECP session?
Answer: 12
Missing a day of EECP therapy will not have a negative effect on the overall treatment. Just like any other therapy, you are encouraged to have EECP every day, except for weekends. The more consistent you are with the EECP schedule, the better the results will be. The missed session will be added to the end of your program until you have a total of 35 sessions.
Question: 13
Who cannot have EECP®?
Answer: 13
There are very few patients who cannot have EECP®. The individuals who should not be treated include pregnant women, those with a severe aneurysm (thinned & bulging vessel walls) in their aorta requiring surgical repair, and patients with active blood clots in their legs.