What Is ECP Therapy?
External Counter Pulsation Therapy popularly known as ECP therapy is a noninvasive and simple treatment for angina - a specific heart condition which occurs when any area of your heart muscle does not receive enough oxygenated blood. It is highly successful in relieving symptoms of angina in most patients. It is a painless, low risk procedure and an effective alternative to medication and surgery.
Who Qualifies For This Beneficial Therapy?
Cardiologists recommend ECP therapy to patients who suffer from typical angina symptoms like chest pain that occur with minimal stress or activity.
How does ECP work?
During the treatment procedure the patient is asked to relax on a comfortable, padded mattress of the ECP bed. Then pneumatic cuffs which are similar to blood-pressure cuffs are applied to the thighs, calves and buttocks of the patient. Hoses are used for connecting the cuffs to a vacuum or an air-pressure pump. Electrodes are placed on the chest of the patient for accurate monitoring of the heart rate with the help of the computer. The cuffs get inflated by the pump in
accordance with the patient's heartbeat. This helps in pumping blood and supplies more oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
This mechanism improves the overall performance of the heart and highly contributes to ease symptoms of angina. During the treatment, patients are allowed to sleep, read or even they can watch television. It is important to make the patient feel relax while he or she is undergoing the treatment. The patient can go back to work right after completing a session of the therapy.
After the procedure gets over, the body temperature of the patient rises and he or she may feel a warm sensation. However, this remains for short period and body temperature becomes normal after certain period of time. After undergoing 10-12 treatment sessions, most patients experience improvement in their health condition. However, this differs from one patient to another based on their heart conditions. And few may need more sessions to get the maximum benefit. 80 to 90 percent of cardiac patients feel remarkably better after completion of a course of therapy.
Essentials Before Beginning ECP Therapy
Nursing Assessment
This is very important and generally includes an in-depth review of the medical history of the concerned patient. During the assessment the cardiologist is likely to explain that why he is recommending this particular treatment. He will also offer the patient a comprehensive overview of the treatment and the procedure. He will also answer all the queries of the patient regarding the therapy. Sometimes the patient is also provided with an angina diary to maintain the record of the duration and frequency of the chest pain that accompanies angina.
Stress Test
Prior to the beginning of the ECP therapy a stress test is carried out. This establishes the exercising capacity of the patient and also gives the final clearance to initiate the treatment. In addition, the stress test also identifies the duration, severity and frequency of the chest pain with exercise.
After the completion of 35 treatment sessions, another stress test is performed and the same values are measured once again. Then values of both the tests are compared to find out if any changes have occurred in the severity, duration and frequency of the chest pain and also in the capacity of exercising.
Orientation
At this step, the patient is given a complete explanation regarding the treatment sessions. The patient will also undergo a 15-minute trial session. Generally the first official session of External Counter Pulsation Therapy for elevating chest pain begins the next day of orientation at a specified time.
To get the best effect of the therapy it is always advised to get in touch with experienced and expert cardiologists.
Who Qualifies For This Beneficial Therapy?
Cardiologists recommend ECP therapy to patients who suffer from typical angina symptoms like chest pain that occur with minimal stress or activity.
How does ECP work?
During the treatment procedure the patient is asked to relax on a comfortable, padded mattress of the ECP bed. Then pneumatic cuffs which are similar to blood-pressure cuffs are applied to the thighs, calves and buttocks of the patient. Hoses are used for connecting the cuffs to a vacuum or an air-pressure pump. Electrodes are placed on the chest of the patient for accurate monitoring of the heart rate with the help of the computer. The cuffs get inflated by the pump in
accordance with the patient's heartbeat. This helps in pumping blood and supplies more oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
This mechanism improves the overall performance of the heart and highly contributes to ease symptoms of angina. During the treatment, patients are allowed to sleep, read or even they can watch television. It is important to make the patient feel relax while he or she is undergoing the treatment. The patient can go back to work right after completing a session of the therapy.
After the procedure gets over, the body temperature of the patient rises and he or she may feel a warm sensation. However, this remains for short period and body temperature becomes normal after certain period of time. After undergoing 10-12 treatment sessions, most patients experience improvement in their health condition. However, this differs from one patient to another based on their heart conditions. And few may need more sessions to get the maximum benefit. 80 to 90 percent of cardiac patients feel remarkably better after completion of a course of therapy.
Essentials Before Beginning ECP Therapy
Nursing Assessment
This is very important and generally includes an in-depth review of the medical history of the concerned patient. During the assessment the cardiologist is likely to explain that why he is recommending this particular treatment. He will also offer the patient a comprehensive overview of the treatment and the procedure. He will also answer all the queries of the patient regarding the therapy. Sometimes the patient is also provided with an angina diary to maintain the record of the duration and frequency of the chest pain that accompanies angina.
Stress Test
Prior to the beginning of the ECP therapy a stress test is carried out. This establishes the exercising capacity of the patient and also gives the final clearance to initiate the treatment. In addition, the stress test also identifies the duration, severity and frequency of the chest pain with exercise.
After the completion of 35 treatment sessions, another stress test is performed and the same values are measured once again. Then values of both the tests are compared to find out if any changes have occurred in the severity, duration and frequency of the chest pain and also in the capacity of exercising.
Orientation
At this step, the patient is given a complete explanation regarding the treatment sessions. The patient will also undergo a 15-minute trial session. Generally the first official session of External Counter Pulsation Therapy for elevating chest pain begins the next day of orientation at a specified time.
To get the best effect of the therapy it is always advised to get in touch with experienced and expert cardiologists.
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