Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive pantaloon device designed to increase coronary artery flow in the treatment of angina. This pilot study, conducted in 1992-1993, which used psychosocial testing pre- and posttreatment, yielded data suggesting that EECP is well tolerated psychosocially and produces improvement in the anginal syndrome. More comprehensive research is under way to test these preliminary conclusions.

Activities of Daily Living↗

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Psychosocial effects of enhanced external counterpulsation in the angina patient: a second study.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive technique that has shown promise in the treatment of ischemic coronary artery disease. Patients undergoing EECP were tested for alterations in psychosocial state associated with treatment. Overall perception of health and quality of life improved with EECP. There was also significant improvement in levels of depression, anxiety, and somatization but no change in levels of anger or hostility. On most measures, change was more significant for subjects who showed objective evidence of resolution of ischemia. Given the known predictive relationship between depression and mortality from cardiac disease, the improvement in depression scores through EECP indicates a finding of potential importance that may warrant further study in future research.

Aged↗

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External counterpulsation for the treatment of myocardial ischemia.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a procedure that uses three sets of cuffs to compress the vascular beds of the leg and thigh in sequential manner timed to the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG). Results of nonrandomized studies performed at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Stony Brook and a multicenter randomized study performed at seven centers throughout the United States indicate that the procedure has beneficial hemodynamic and clinical effects in selected patients with chronic angina that is refractory to standard medical and surgical therapy.

Electric Countershock↗

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Medical treatment of silent myocardial ischemia.

The pathophysiology of silent ischemia remains unclear, but it is extremely prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease. Stress testing is the preferred method of detection, but Holter monitoring is reliable in recording ischemia during daily life and in evaluating therapy. Prognosis is adversely affected by silent ischemia, whether the patient is symptomatic or asymptomatic. A variety of pharmacologic agents can reduce the ischemic burden, and data suggest that such therapy improves prognosis, although not as much as coronary artery revascularization.

Angina Pectoris↗