EECP
seminar at Baqai Institute of Cardiovascular
Diseases (BICVD)
Karachi: Dr Faisal Ahmed, consultant
cardiologist and medical director, Baqai Institute
of Cardiovascular Diseases (BICVD), speaking
at a seminar organized by Macter International
in his Institute, has laid down the importance
of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP)
therapy for the treatment of angina and heart
failure patients who do not respond to conventional
procedures including angioplasty and bypass surgery.
In his presentation during the seminar, Dr Faisal
Ahmed highlighted the benefits of EECP for heart
patients and elaborated upon the procedural details
of the therapy.
He explained that EECP system employs a sophisticated
computerized control of the inflation and deflation
sequence of the heart muscle through a series
of compressive cuffs wrapped around the patient’s
calves and lower and upper thighs. During diastole,
the cuffs inflate sequentially from the calves
proximally, resulting in augmented diastolic
central aortic pressure and increased coronary
perfusion pressure. At that point external compression
is progressively increases, as needed, to raise
diastolic pressures gradually. Studies of the
hemodynamic effects of counterpulsation have
revealed that several factors give this modality
the potential to assist patients with low cardiac
output syndromes. In a number of studies this
direct technique was used to document increased
coronary flow, decreased coronary AVO2 difference,
and reduced left ventricle pressure work.
Tracing the history of the evolution of EECP,
Dr Faisal informed that based on the results
of the several clinical trials conducted on the
therapy it is obvious that it can offer symptomatic
and clinical relief to patients with angina pectoris,
including reduced need for anti-anginal medications,
reduced frequency and intensity of chest pain,
increased exercise tolerance, immediate and sustained
improvement in myocardial perfusion of ischemic
areas.
He further said that the repeated and pulsed
increases in diastolic pressure during EECP therapy
enhances or stimulates the opening of collateral
channels in the coronary vascular system creating
a natural bypass.
Professor F.U. Baqai, founding chancellor of
Baqai Medical University also spoke on the occasion
and appreciated the efforts of Macter International
in introducing the unique EECP technology in
Pakistan, which according to him will be a source
of relief to the large number of patients across
the country who were earlier considered untreatable
in Pakistan.
