What is the difference between ECP & EECP treatment therapy?

There has been an ongoing debate about the external counterpulsation therapy for some time now. This therapy popularly known as ECP is used to cure ischemic heart diseases. It uses mechanical function inflating pneumatic cuffs in a particular sequence beginning at the calves and thighs reaching the buttocks targeted on the heart rate of the patients suffering from heart disease. Both the terms ECP and EECP are used alternatively for this form of heart treatment. Although, some say that there is a difference but practically there is no major difference in EECP and ECP.

ECP is external counterpulsation therapy whereas EECP is enhanced external counterpulsation therapy; the term patented and used by VasoMedical Inc. which is a company situated in New York. They provide the equipment for enhanced external counterpulsation therapy which is obviously the better treatment therapy. EECP is basically a trademarked term used for the same treatment procedure by Vasomedical to establish itself as a brand among all the other competitors producing same equipment. Using a trademark can also discourage others to compete within the same sphere. VasoMedical coined and used this term to cut down on their competition cleverly.

Some people within the medical industry use the term to create confusion in the minds of the patients. However, the truth is that both the terms essentially indicate to the same form of treatment conceptually and functionally.

Is there a Difference in the way EECP and ECP function?

There are some people within the industry who still love to promote the fact that both the therapies are different forms of treatment. This is fundamentally false. EECP is enhanced only its name. However, there are people who argue that not just the name, the devices used for this form of treatment function in a different manner. By function, they mean the procedure of pneumatic inflation of cuffs in a sequential order (calves, thighs and buttocks). This process is essentially the same for both the terms used to refer to a single therapy for treating heart diseases. The regulatory body in different countries will never permit other devices to be used to perform the same function if they do not meet the standards thus clearing any doubts in the mind of the patients.

EECP heart treatment therapy is more commonly used because VasoMedical holds the largest percentage of share for all those publications that talk about external counterpulsation therapy and its effectiveness in treating heart diseases. Naturally, people refer to it as a better form of treatment than ECP. Thus, it is actually a strategy and not a separate treatment form. Having said that, we cannot take away from the fact that VasoMedical deserves some credit for pioneering external counterpulsation therapy. It actually made ECP or EECP a viable treatment option for people suffering from Angina, Congestive Heart Failure and such other serious medical conditions.

Which One is More Effective?

The normal belief in the market is that the equipment provided by VasoMedical is more effective because they have funded more studies than anyone else. However, this belief is flawed because the effectiveness depends on the physiology of the patient and how the treatment is being provided and not exactly on the equipment. The fundamental factors include the inflation and deflation timing in a 35-hour treatment session and also the pressure delivered to every patient which could make a difference in the treatment. These factors are way more significant than which model system is used on the patient.

There is a correlation between blood flow and the pressure delivered which cannot be denied by any medical practitioner. Therefore, the machine used is not as big as it is thought to be. Ultimately, a patient will benefit only when the pressure is delivered to increase the diastolic blood flow during the tenure of treatment. In fact, there are companies that claim their machines to be better than VasoMedical’s EECP because of the user-interface which offers empirical data on per minute basis which is more helpful to optimize treatment variables like pressure and inflation or deflation timing. The technician finds it easier to operate thus making the entire process more effective for the patient.

Therefore, EECP and ECP both are conceptually and technically the same treatment practices which are sometimes used differently within the industry.