Enhanced external counterpulsation and CVD protection: 3D echo validation: a promising approach

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Noninvasive Cardiac Therapies

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) and various cardiovascular conditions necessitate effective treatment strategies.
• Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive therapy with potential benefits for cardiac function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of EECP on echocardiographic variables in adult patients with diverse cardiac conditions.
• To assess changes in left ventricular myocardial performance index (LVMPI), left ventricular mass index (LVMi), diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular systolic function (LVEF), and left atrial volume index (LAVi).

Main Methods:

• Sixty adult patients with conditions including heart failure (HF), heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF), post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and syndrome X were enrolled.
• Patients underwent 35 hours of EECP treatment.
• Echocardiographic evaluation included LVMPI, LVMi, LVDD, LVEF, and LAVi before and after EECP treatment.

Main Results:

• EECP significantly reduced LVMPI (p < 0.001) and LAVi (p < 0.001) in the total study population.
• Significant improvement in LVEF was observed in HF patients (30.7% to 36.9%, p < 0.001).
• EECP reduced grade II/III diastolic dysfunction and E/E' ratio > 12, but not in patients with normal diastolic function or grade I dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• EECP is a noninvasive, non-surgical option for cardiovascular disease and heart failure.
• The therapy improves global cardiac function, increases LVEF in patients with reduced ejection fraction, and reduces diastolic dysfunction and LAVi.
• EECP shows promise in managing patients with single or multivessel disease, HF, HFNEF, post-PCI/CABG, and syndrome X, potentially reducing adverse clinical events.