The Mumbai based Krishna Cardiac Care Centre (KCCC) has introduced Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) therapy at the centre under the guidance of renowned cardiologist Dr Ashok H Punjabi.

In the United States, EECP is FDA approved for the treatment of coronary artery disease and angina, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure and for use during a heart attack further testimony to its safety and efficacy. Although this therapy is not a cure for heart disease, improved blood flow relieves debilitating symptoms. The third generation state of the art equipment for EECP installed at KCCC has been brought to India by Vasomedical.

According to Dr Ashok Punjabi, "As per WHO, approximately two million people in India die of cardiovascular disease annually and at this rate, in near future India will be crowned as Heart Disease Capital of the world. Diabetes has already achieved this feat for India. For a developing country like India with population of 1.1 billion people, a patient friendly non-invasive and economical therapy solution is the need of the hour. EECP therapy fits the role absolutely".

EECP is a mechanical procedure in which long inflatable cuffs (like Blood pressure cuffs) are wrapped around both of the patients legs while the patient lies on the bed, the leg cuffs are inflated and deflated with each heartbeat. This is accomplished by means of a computer which triggers off the patients ECG so that the cuffs deflates just as each heart beat begins and inflates just as each heartbeat ends. When the cuffs inflate they do so in a sequential pattern so that the blood in the legs is "milked" upwards, towards the heart.

EECP establishes new blood flow patterns to the heart by opening small blood vessels (collaterals) to create natural bypass around blocked arteries. In doing so EECP reduces or eliminates angina (chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms) and nitroglycerine use, increases energy, stamina and allows patients to return to an active lifestyle they thought was gone forever. The benefits from EECP have been shown to last as long as the benefits from invasive procedures such as angioplasty, stent placement and bypass surgery.

The attraction to this revolutionary treatment is obvious. EECP is an effective safe and painless treatment for heart disease, the no 1 Killer in developed countries.