enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP)

^[1]^[2]^[3]

Indications

A series of inflatable cuffs is applied to the lower extremities & gated to the electrocardiogram to provide increased diastolic flow to the coronary arteries & afterload reduction during systole.

A series of daily treatments is given for 4-6 weeks.

unknown

little to no benefit at 6 months follow-up^[2]
improvement in angina symptoms & exercise capacity can persist for up to 2 years^[3]
does not decrease mortality

↑ Journal Watch 23(14):110, 2003 Bonetti PO et al Enhanced external counterpulsation for ischemic heart disease: what's behind the curtain? Am J Coll Cardiol 41:1918, 2003 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12798558
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Feldman AM, Silver MA, Francis GS, Abbottsmith CW, Fleishman BL, Soran O, de Lame PA, Varricchione T; PEECH Investigators. Enhanced external counterpulsation improves exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Sep 19;48(6):1198-205. Epub 2006 Aug 28. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16979005
Gottlieb SS, Pina IL. Enhanced external counterpulsation: what can we learn from the treatment of neurasthenia? J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Sep 19;48(6):1206-7. Epub 2006 Aug 28. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16979006
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15, 16. American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009, 2012