Non-Invasive Therapy for Angina Pectoris

Why Counter Pulsation Can Benefit Patients with Chronic Angina Pectoris:

Your heart is the pump that supplies blood flow throughout the entire body.  It supplies tissues with the oxygen and nutrients that are needed to sustain life.  In order to efficiently accomplish this task, the heart muscle needs oxygen-enriched blood to generate energy for pumping blood to the body.  Since the heart cannot obtain oxygen directly from the blood in the heart’s chambers, it relies on its own set of blood vessels, called coronary arteries.

The coronaries are different from other arteries in that maximum blood flow through them occurs during diastole (when the heart is resting between heartbeats).  Other arteries receive their blood supply during systole (when the heart is pumping).  The coronaries cannot receive blood when the heart is pumping because they are constricted from the heart muscle’s contraction.  In many people, the coronary arteries become narrowed or obstructed.  During exercise or stressful situations, an insufficient amount of blood is delivered to parts of the heart muscle.  The result is often a painful experience called angina pectoris.

What is External Counter Pulsation?

It is a non-invasive procedure that may reduce the symptoms of chronic angina.  While the exact mechanism that allows external Counter Pulsation to reduce angina symptoms isn’t known, it is presumed that the increase in coronary blood flow to the heart during this therapy is why the symptoms are reduced or eliminated.  The beneficial effects appear to be sustained between treatments and have persisted in some patients for a number of years.

How does the CounterPulsation System work?

When being treated with the Counter Pulsation System you sit in a recliner chair or lie comfortably in a bed.  A series of cuffs (much like large blood pressure cuffs) will be placed on your calves, thighs and optionally, around your buttocks.  The Counter Pulsation System will inflate and deflate these cuffs, moving the blood from your lower limbs toward your heart.  The Counter Pulsation System times the inflation and deflation of the cuffs to your heartbeat from your electrocardiogram (ECG) signal.  The timing is such that your heart receives the increased blood flow precisely when it is releasing and the flow through your coronary arteries is at its peak.  A fraction of a second before your heart beats again, the cuffs are instantaneously deflated, enabling the blood in your heart to be pumped with minimal resistance into empty blood vessels.  Since the Counter Pulsation System is timed from your heartbeat it will automatically turn off if your heartbeat goes below or above a specific rate.

Is external Counter Pulsation Painful?

External Counter Pulsation therapy with the Counter Pulsation System feels like a vigorous massage.  Many patients actually find they are able to read, listen to music or just relax (even sleep) during therapy.  Since chaffing can occur from slight movement of the cuffs during inflation/deflation, Spandex® “tights” or a similar garment should be worn during treatment. 
What is the standard treatment and how long does therapy take?

Therapy with the Counter Pulsation System requires 35 one-hour sessions, five days a week over a seven week period.  Many patients find they are comfortable reducing the number of weeks required by having two one-hour sessions each day.  You must commit, however, to 35 total hours of therapy.

What benefits may this treatment provide?

External Counter Pulsation may have a number of benefits, depending on your individual condition.  Patients suffering from chronic angina have experienced relief from the pain associated with this condition following 35 hours of treatment, along with increased exercise ability and reduced need for medications.

How long before I feel improvement?

As you know, all individuals are unique.  There is no certain treatment time after which you might feel better.  It is understandable, that as the number of hours of treatment increases, improvement begins to be observed.

Counter Pulsation Works - The ability of CounterPulsation to successfully treat coronary artery disease is backed by scientific medical research.

Counter Pulsation Eliminates The Need For Surgery and Anesthesia – Counter Pulsation creates a natural bypass around blocked heart arteries without surgery or the need for wires to be placed in the body.  There are no incisions or scars; no pain or hospitalization is necessary.  It works!

Counter Pulsation is Very Safe - Other treatments of blocked heart vessels are associated with strokes, heart attacks or death, especially with repeat procedures.  There are no major complications in patients receiving Counter Pulsation.

Counter Pulsation is Comfortable – Counter Pulsation is done in outpatient facilities while patients watch TV, read or sleep during their treatments, with loved ones at their side the whole time.

CounterPulsation Lasts For Years – Counter Pulsation’s ability to stop the chest pain of blocked heart vessels lasts for years in the majority of helped patients, enabling them to enjoy their improved lifestyles to the fullest.

External Counter Pulsation is an FDA approved therapy and a tremendous help for people with certain types of Heart Disease.  Treatment is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  We can only accommodate up to 2 patients every two months. Normal protocol for ECP treatment is 35 one-hour sessions completed in seven weeks.  If you would like more information on this, please call 1-800-200-7178 or talk to one of our staff members when you visit our clinic.