Ecp Faq >>
What happens during treatment?
 

Patients lie on a padded table in a treatment room. Three electrodes are applied to the chest to record a constant ECG reading. A finger sensor called a plethysmograph, records a tracing that represents blood pressure. A set of cuff is wrapped around the calves, thighs and buttocks. The system used an ECG signal to electronically synchronize inflation and deflation of the cuffs. Patients experience a sensation of strong 'hug' moving upward from calves to thighs to buttocks during inflation followed by the rapid release of pressure on deflation.During ECP treatment, a display shows an ECG signal and a blood pressure tracing. An ECP therapist uses these readings to time Counterpulsation and monitor treatment.
Am I candidate for ECP treatment?
 

Ask your physician to evaluate you. You may be a candidate for ECP if you: 

  • Have chronic stable Angina 
  • Are not receiving adequate relief from Angina by taking nitrates.
  • Do not qualify as a candidate for invasive procedures 
  • Have exhausted invasive treatments without lasting relief of symptoms. 
  • Are unwilling to undergo surgery or Angioplasty. 
  • Want to explore alternatives to bypass surgery or Angioplasty. 
Who can benefit from ECP?
 
  • Those who have been advised bypass surgery and choose not to have it.
  • Those who cannot afford the cost of bypass surgery.
  • Those who have other diseases which make them unfit for surgery eg. coexisting  Diabetes Mellitus, Bronchial Asthma, Kidney failure, Thyroid disorders, old age i.e. more than 80 yrs.
  • Those who have already had bypass surgery done a few years earlier and don't want to suffer the experience again.
  • Those patients who cannot afford the exorbitant cost of angioplasty (upto Rs 3.75 lacs  with two cipher stents and reopro)
  • Those patients who have chest pain or breathlessness of cardiac origin and do not wish to undergo any further investigation can go for EECP directly. Patients whose stents have got blocked again.
How long does the treatment last?
 

35 sittings of one hour each.
How often will I be treated?
 

Patients typically attend one-hour treatment sessions once a day, five days a week, for seven weeks. Many people have continued their employment while receiving treatment by scheduling their session before or after work. Patients with extensive atherosclerotic disease may require more than 35 hours of treatment to achieve optimal benefit. 
What happens if I miss a treatment?
 

You are encouraged to come for your ECP treatment everyday. However, missing a day will not have a negative effect on your overall results. When you come back, you will simply pick up where you left off, and the missed treatment will be added to the end of your program until you have a total of 35 sessions. Just like exercise, the more consistent you are with your ECP schedule, the better your results will be.

What does ECP feel like?
 

ECP feels like a deep muscle massage to your legs. During the treatment, you do not feel anything in the chest or heart. You only feel the cuffs that are wrapped around your legs squeezing in time to your own heartbeat. Our patients have affectionately described this sensation as "gentle hugs." Most of our patients relax, listen to music, or read during their treatments. Some even sleep!
Angina is the global term for all symptoms associated with coronary artery disease, which occurs when the heart is not receiving enough blood. It occurs when vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle become dysfunctional, and are often narrowed or blocked. Angina may feel like chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, pain in the jaw, neck, arms, back, nausea, or generalized fatigue. Each patient experiences angina differently.