Enhanced External Counterpulsation: A Patient Guide

What can I expect during the procedure?

The initial course of EECP therapy involves 35 consecutive one-hour sessions, once or twice each day, for approximately 7 weeks. During an EECP clinic visit, you will lie on a bed and the treatment supervisor will wrap blood pressure-type cuffs around your calves and lower and upper thighs. Cardiac monitoring wires will be attached to your chest to record your heartbeat. The cuffs are then inflated and deflated in sequence, placing pressure on your legs. The pumping action helps blood flow from the lower limbs to your heart, while reducing your heart's workload.

During each visit and before the treatment begins, the treatment supervisor will measure and record your blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rates. The supervisor will also look at your legs to check for areas of redness, broken blood vessels, or signs of other vascular problems.

Before your treatment, try to urinate so that you won’t experience discomfort during the session. To prevent irritation or skin chafing during the procedure, try to wear tight-fitting, seamless leggings or bicycle pants made of elastic material.

If the pulsating sensation from the cuffs becomes uncomfortable, tell the treatment supervisor immediately so that the treatment can be stopped.

Your treatment supervisor might recommend that you keep a daily diary of your angina symptoms during the course of your treatment. For example, record each angina attack, its time of occurrence, duration, severity, its relationship to precipitating factors, and the number of nitroglycerin tablets you used to ease the attack.

You should continue to take your angina medication at regular prescribed dosages throughout the course of treatment, and talk to your doctor and pharmacist as required.

EECP can benefit the heart in two ways: First, the pumping action of the leg cuffs increases the blood flow to the coronary arteries. Because the coronary arteries receive blood from the heart after each heartbeat, the inflation of the cuffs helps more blood flow into the coronary arteries with each heartbeat.