Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Treating heart failure with enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP): design of the Prospective Evaluation of EECP
Arthur M Feldman1, Marc A Silver, Gary S Francis
1Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, 1025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19607, USA.
Background:
Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) treatment can improve exercise tolerance in patients with ischemic heart disease; however, the possible benefits of EECP in patients with stable heart failure (HF) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) are unclear. An open pilot study showed significant increases in exercise tolerance in HF patients undergoing EECP. Thus a larger, controlled study of EECP in patients with stable HF (New York Heart Association [NYHA] classes II and III) and LVD was undertaken.
Methods And Results:
The PEECH trial is a controlled, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study of 187 patients with symptomatic but stable HF (NYHA classes II and III) and an LV ejection fraction < or =35% was designed to assess the efficiency of EECP in patients with stable HF. Medical therapy is optimized in all patients based on the recommendations of the Heart Failure Society of America ("Usual Care"), and then randomized between 2 treatment groups; UC or EECP (35 hours over 7 weeks).
Conclusion:
Efficacy measures include standard exercise tolerance tests on a treadmill (modified Naughton protocol), with measurements of peak oxygen uptake and exercise duration time; quality of life questionnaires; NYHA classification; and neurohormonal markers of HF.
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
Heart Failure V: Medical Management
Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
