Enhanced External Counter Pulsation-A Treatment Modality and Natural Bypass for CAD Patients

Coronary circulation has an extra feature of angiogenesis when the cardiac muscle gets deprived of oxygen for a long period of time, the cardiac circulation will start its compensatory mechanism by formation of new collateral circulation. The collateral circulation is the formation of newer vessels around the blocked area of the heart/myocardium so that the myocardium gets the needed blood supply. The formation of collateral circulation will take a longtime for the compensatory mechanism to occur. The angiogenesis and the formation of collateral circulation can be effectively increased by some of the interventions. One among them is the enhanced external counter pulsation, which is safe, non-invasive, outpatient treatment option for chronic stable angina without options for revascularization and to be called as natural bypass for CAD patients.