External CounterPulsation – Indications and Contraindications

External CounterPulsation (ECP) therapy is a safe and effective treatment that provides sustained duration of benefit in patients with disabling angina and angina equivalents, left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), and heart failure. IECP therapy is indicated for use in stable and unstable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiogenic shock.

Patients who can be benefited with External CounterPulsation (ECP)

Patients with angina or angina equivalents who:
• No longer respond to medical therapy.
• Restrict their activities to avoid angina symptoms.
• Are unwilling to undergo any additional invasive revascularization procedures.
• Have LVD (EF<35%).
• Have co-morbid conditions that increase the risk of revascularization procedures (e.g., diabetes, Heart failure, pulmonary disease and renal dysfunction).
• Have coronary anatomy unsuitable for surgical or catheter-based revascularization.
• Are considered inoperable or at high risk of operative/interventional complications.
• Suffer with micro vascular angina (Cardiac Syndrome X).

Heart failure patients in a euvolemic state with:
• Ischemic or idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
• LVD (EF<35%)
• Co-morbid conditions that increase the risk of complications of revascularization procedures.

External CounterPulsation (ECP) however may sadly not be suitably administered to every patient as there are contraindications please click here to know more.