Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP)

EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation) Therapy

It has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of angina pectoris, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, stable and unstable angina, and cardiogenic shock. Additionally, it is effectively utilized in the treatment of erectile dysfunction secondary to vascular diseases, as well as in Parkinson’s disease.

The standard EECP treatment protocol consists of a total of 35 hours, administered 1 hour per day, 6 days a week.

This modality is officially endorsed by the Turkish Society of Cardiology and the Turkish Medical Association

Hemodynamic Effects of EEC

Promotes Natural Bypass: It enhances cardiac blood circulation, effectively prompting the heart to form its own natural bypass channels.
Angiogenesis: It stimulates the formation of new collateral blood vessels (collateralization) in stenotic (narrowed) or occluded segments of the coronary arteries.
Myocardial Contractility: It improves the contraction rate and overall pumping efficiency of the heart muscle.
Systemic Perfusion: It increases and optimizes blood circulation to key organs, particularly the kidneys and the brain.

Patient Selection: Who is Eligible for EECP?

Patients for whom coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention (balloon/stent angioplasty) is technically unfeasible due to unfavorable diffuse vascular anatomy.
Patients who are deemed unfit for CABG or coronary angioplasty due to severe comorbidities.
Patients who experience persistent symptoms (refractory angina) despite undergoing standard revascularization procedures or receiving maximal optimized medical therapy.
Patients with cardiomyopathy who have developed heart failure.
Patients who have previously undergone CABG or stent placement but have developed restenosis (re-narrowing of the vessel).