William E. Lawson, John C.K. Hui, Gudrun Lang

Abstract :

The present study utilized a cohort of 2,289 consecutive patients enrolled in the Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) Consortium to evaluate whether results of university studies showing EECP safety and effectiveness in treating angina can be generalized.

EECP was found to be safe and well tolerated with a 4.0% rate of adverse experiences.

Angina class improved in 74% of patients with limiting angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society, CCS, functional class II-IV), with patients most impaired at baseline demonstrating the greatest improvement (39.5% of patients in CCS III and IV improved 2 or more classes).

Efficacy was independent of provider setting or experience, women responded as well as men, and although younger patients demonstrated a greater likelihood of improvement, EECP was effective in patients ranging from 19 to 97 years. Extending the benefit of EECP treatment to a wider range of patients may be indicated based on these findings.

Cardiology 2000;94:31-35

Exciting New Heart Therapy Could Save Your Life

An FDA-approved alternative to bypass surgery and angioplasty is now available to patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure. This therapy, called External CounterPulsation (ECP), is described by Dr. George J. Juetersonke in his new book Passing on Bypass Using External Counterpulsation: An FDA Cleared Alternative to Treat Heart Disease Without Surgery, Drugs or Angioplasty.

Unlike heart surgery and angioplasty, ECP is a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical therapy, which enables the heart to grow its own bypasses. According to Dr. Juetersonke, it is also safe, painless, and affordable.

"The idea behind ECP," as described in his book, "is to gently massage blood out of the legs and back to the heart thereby encouraging the growth of new collateral blood vessels through which blood flows around coronary artery blockages."

This "natural bypass," as Dr. Juetersonke calls it, begins by wrapping computer-controlled blood pressure-like cuffs around a reclining patient's legs and hips. The cuffs massage the leg muscles in synchrony with the contraction of the heart muscle. It is during the rest phase of each heartbeat that extra blood flows into the new vessels, encouraging them to grow and nourish the ailing heart.

Patients initially undergo 35 one-hour treatments, each one delivering more than four thousand "counterpulses" of blood to the heart. The treatments are performed on an outpatient basis, five days a week for seven weeks. Most patients feel substantially better at the end of this time, writes Dr. Juetersonke.

"A single course of ECP treatments has reduced or eliminated the frequency and intensity of chest pain in the majority of my patients who have tried it," notes Dr. Juetersonke. "Several of my patients began therapy unable to cross a room without experiencing severe pain. By the last treatment, they were able to walk over a mile virtually pain-free." ECP has even worked in cases where bypass surgery or angioplasty has failed or wasn't completely successful, according to Dr. Juetersonke.

While ECP is not recommended for everyone who suffers from heart disease, it may well be the best first line of defense for the majority of cases. "Coronary artery bypass surgery has its place in the treatment of some patients with incapacitating angina or severe coronary artery disease," he says, "but it is definitely the inferior choice for the multitude of lower risk patients unnecessarily talked into dangerous surgical procedures every day."

Dr. Juetersonke's lack of faith in coronary artery bypass surgery is not unfounded. "Major government studies have shown that for most medically stable heart patients, bypass surgery does not prolong life or prevent future heart attacks," he explains. "And in spite of its widespread use, angioplasty has yet to be shown effective in preventing heart attacks. In fact, the procedure may actually lead to more heart attacks."

One study quoted in Passing on Bypass reveals that having angioplasty increased the risk of having additional heart attacks by 42% and the need for bypass surgery by 59% when compared to patients with heart disease for whom only medication was prescribed. He cites another study, which concluded that up to 50% of all bypass surgeries and angioplasties are not medically necessary.

In addition to its health benefits, ECP is almost completely free of side effects and is covered by private insurance as well as Medicare. It is also far less expensive, costing just a fraction of what angioplasty and bypass surgery does.

ECP is currently available at over 240 clinics nationwide which are listed in the appendix of the book. As healthcare providers such as the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins begin to offer the service, skepticism is fading and the demand for more clinics is growing. Medicare and most insurance cover it.

Cost is approximately $7,000. At the present time, Dr. Juetersonke's book Passing on Bypass Using External CounterPulsation: An FDA cleared Alternative to Treat Heart Disease Without Surgery, Drugs or Angioplasty is the only one written on this topic. It is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

Dr. George J. Juetersonke is a board-certified physician and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. He is presently in his twentieth year of practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

For more information or to order a copy of his book, you may call him at 719-597-6075 or visit his Web site: www.drjlifepulse.com. You may e-mail Dr. Juetersonke at drj@drjlifepulse.com or send him a fax at 719-573-6529.