70-80 Percent of Angina & CHF Patients Benefit From Enhanced External Counterpulsation Therapy

WESTBURY, N.Y. - Jan. 20, 2014 - PRLog -- Bill Wilkerson used to have to take nitroglycerin pills for his angina just to make it to the pharmacy to pick up more nitro pills. He had already had two bypass surgeries and several stents. In February 2013, his angina returned. Wanting to avoid another surgery, Wilkerson learned about EECP therapy and sought treatment at a clinic near his home in Dallas.

“The treatments were very comfortable,” said Wilkerson. “I spent the sessions watching a movie or listening to music. After two weeks, I could clean out my gutters and do other work in the yard. I don’t take nitro very often. I would recommend EECP highly.”

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) therapy is a proven treatment that provides almost immediate relief to a majority of patients suffering from heart failure and angina. The non-invasive, painless treatment consists of wrapping compressive, inflatable cuffs around the patient’s calves, thighs and buttocks. The cuffs are inflated and deflated in synchronization with the patient’s heart beat. One hour treatments are given five days a week for seven consecutive weeks in an outpatient setting, typically a physician’s office or hospital outpatient department.

EECP is like a second heart pumping while the patient’s heart is at rest. EECP uses the large blood vessels of the lower extremities as a pumping chamber, pushing blood back to the heart during the resting phase of the cardiac cycle, increasing blood flow throughout the body to the heart like “passive” cardiac exercise.

“The EECP device is activated by the heartbeat. We try to enhance the pumping function of the heart,” said Ozlem Soran, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine, associate professor of epidemiology/research, University of Pittsburg Cardiovascular Institute, a leading researcher on EECP therapy. “Our aim is to positively impact the patient population which can lower the cost of treatment of coronary artery disease treatment.”

Clinical studies and data from the International EECP patient Registry coordinated by the University of Pittsburgh, continue to show that 70-80% of patients realize therapeutic benefit immediately upon completion of a course of EECP therapy.

Traditional cardiovascular surgery, including angioplasty and placement of stents, can cost $50,000 or more per case. EECP therapy is dramatically less expensive – about $5,500 per treatment regimen on average – with a much lower risk of complications.

# # #

Multi-media links to EECP facts, patient testimonials

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-AdqygH7Ls



·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRnzkT-7i5M



·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sNK3_tNEDw&feature=em-share_video_user



About Vasomedical
Vasomedical, Inc. is a diversified medical technology company specializing in the manufacture and sale of medical devices and in the domestic sale of diagnostic imaging products.  The Company's main proprietary products are EECP^® Therapy systems, the gold standard of ECP treatment. The Company operates through three wholly owned subsidiaries: VasoSolutions, Vasomedical Global and VasoHealthcare. VasoSolutions manages and coordinates the design, manufacture and sales of EECP® Therapy systems, and other medical equipment operations; Vasomedical Global operates the Company's China-based subsidiaries; and VasoHealthcare is the operating subsidiary for the exclusive sales representation of GE Healthcare diagnostic imaging products in certain market segments. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com.