Patients attend 35 one-hour outpatient sessions five days a week for a seven-week period. Patients lie on a padded table in a treatment room at The Angina Center of Evansville. External inflatable cuffs, wrapped around the patient's calves, thighs and buttocks, are then electronically synchronized to inflate and deflate, thus compressing the patient's lower limbs and increasing blood flow to the heart. Patients will experience a "hugging" sensation as the cuffs are inflated.
During counterpulsation, each wave of pressure is electronically timed to the patient's heartbeat -- the EECP system pumps when the heart is resting and releases pressure when it is working. This procedure increases blood flow to the heart muscle, decreases the heart's workload, and creates greater oxygen supply while lowering oxygen demand.
Medical professionals at The Angina Center of Evansville closely monitor the patient's blood pressure and heartbeat throughout each treatment session.
After EECP treatment, many patients:
- Can walk farther, carry heavier packages and be more active without having angina
- Have fewer angina attacks
- Have less painful angina episodes
- Need less anti-anginal medication
- Can return to work and more easily resume daily activities
- Feel more confident about participating in their social lives and exercising without interference from angina
The Angina Center of Evansville...The Next Wave of Angina Therapy.
