External Counter Pulsation (IECP)

Cardiac Shock Wave (CSWT)

Indications of Use

• Stable Angina
• Unstable Angina
• CAD, Single vessel, double vessel or triple vessel.
• Heart Failure
• Congestive Heart failure
• LV Dysfunction
• Cardiomyopathy
• Cardiogenic Shock
• Microvascular angina

It is only used for the treatment of refractory angina. (angina resistant to conventional therapies for coronary artery disease)

Clinical trials

External Counter Pulsation has been tested for decades there is an endless number of controlled clinical trials done. It is widely accepted and is being used at more than 900 centres around the world.

Cardiac Shock Wave Therapy or CSWT or ESMR has very few clinical trials and is not used in more than 55 centres across the world

Subjects

Due to its wide range of indications of use, the ECP can be administered to a large number of cardiac patients making it a better and more profitable choice.

ESMR or CSWT is indicated for use on patients suffering from refractory angina. Out of the total cardiac patients, only about 6 to 7% of the patients suffer from refractory angina. Out of this 7%, not even 1 % opts for CSWT, making it a modality of lesser choice.

Benefits

In addition to bypassing blockages, creating new blood vessels and strengthening the heart, ECP prompts the release of VEGF, and nitric oxide and also stimulates the bone marrow to produce stem cell endothelial progenitor cells, which stimulate the growth of new blood vessel cells that line the arteries.

External Counter Pulsation has a relaxing anti-stress effect and has been shown to decrease anxiety and depression in patients with heart disease. The patient gets the benefits of one hour of exercise while simply lying on a comfortable therapy bed. There is no other medical treatment that comes close to doing all this.  ECP stands alone in its unique ability to effectively treat all of these issues safely and effectively.

Apart from Cardiac Indications Apart from the cardiological benefits External Counter Pulsation has been found to be helpful in the following indications as well:

• Renal Failure
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Sudden Deafness And Tinnitus
• Stroke (Brain Attack)
• Peripheral Artery Disease

  Cardiac Shock Wave therapy administered to the myocardium increases capillary density and regional myocardial blood flow. It creates local vasodilation in the targeted areas. The blood flow at the targeted area is improved which is treated with shock waves.

Duration of Therapy

5 weeks, one-hour everyday session

9 weeks, 1 session per week

Patient views of therapy

External Counter Pulsation is highly accepted by patients, because of its comfortable therapy. Patients suffering from angina can get this treatment done at early stages and avoid heart attacks.
The simplicity of the treatment, just compression of the legs like a massage is more acceptable.

Patients refrain from this therapy as Cardiac Shock Wave therapy will pass shock waves to the heart. Some patients are a bit uncomfortable with the fact that they will be lying on the table with shockwaves being targeted to the heart.