ECP at Cardiology Associates in Green Bay Wisconsin

From Cardiomedics

External counterpulsation was first started at Cardiology Associates in Green Bay, Wisconsin in August 2009. So far we have treated 26 patients. The therapy is for 1 hour a day for 7 weeks.

HOW WILL I FEEL DURING AND AFTER I FINISH
THE THERAPY?
Most patients describe the treatment as a vigorous massage.
They also say that after you get used to it, reading or
sleeping during the treatment is very easy. Right after finishing
a treatment many are energized or invigorated, but some
feel a little tired

IT’S AS SIMPLE AS 1,2,3...
One: ECP pumps, sending oxygenated blood
to the heart during diastole (the heart is resting)
Two: ECP stops pumping just before the
heart pumps, leaving the blood vessels open and void of
resistance.
Three: Over the treatment period your angina is reduced,
or may even be eliminated

CARDIASSIST - Treatment Protocol - Indications/Precautions
Angina: The established treatment regimen is 35 one-hour sessions. Usually, treatment is provided five days per week
over a 7 week period. Patients lie on an exam table or a physical therapy bed. Many centers provide headphones and
a CD player or TV-VCR equipment for entertainment. Some patients choose to sleep during the procedure.
Heart Failure: The established treatment regimen is 35 one-hour sessions. Usually, treatment is provided five days per
week over a 7 week period. Patients are treated with the Graduated™ Pressure treatment regimen which gradually
increases the amount of Diastolic to Systolic augmentation based on the patient’s ejection fraction. This minimizes the
chance of worsening the heart failure condition by being treated over aggressively with ECP.
Indications: CardiAssist ECP is indicated for angina, myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock and congestive heart
failure.
Precautions: The physician should exercise his/her medical judgement when applying ECP to patients with severe
peripheral vascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, aortic regurgitation, left ventricular hypertrophy, aneurysms,
pacemakers, uncontrolled arrhythmias, significant aortic valve disease, significant pulmonary disease and unsuitable
lower extremity anatomy (e.g. amputation or congenital deformity). There is no data to suppor t the use of ECP during
pregnancy.
ECP should be used only by qualified medical or paramedical personnel under the direction and supervision of a
physician. Use of the device is not recommended in the presence of flammable gases such as oxygen. from Cardiomedics

Friday, July 29, 2011

We lost a good friend and former ECP patient this week. Wendy and I became close to him during his daily ECP treatments. We continued to visit him and take him out to eat frequently over the last year. He will be dearly missed. RIP Don Jill

Saturday, July 23, 2011

We had 3 more patients finish ECP recently with great results. They noticed a big decrease in their SOB and angina. They also have noticed a big increase in their energy. Two of the patients said they would definitelycome back in a year and get the treatment again. One of the patients is 87 years old and came 45 minutes fir his treatment. I thought that was amazing. Our new patient is a repeat (Jim) from last year. He liked the results he got last year and wanted to have the treatment again. Hopefully he`ll get great results again.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I would like to thank Jill,Becky and Wendy for all the help with the therapy. When your told you are a candidate for the ECP a lot runs through you mind including what happen if this done work. The first few treatments I had that going on over and over then i noticed more and more the ability to walk into my work without taking Nitro tablets to get rid of the pounding in my heart. From taking Nitro on a multiple daily use to zero usage. Along with that I noticed that the circulation in my legs was greatly improved which is a feat in it's own being a diabetic also. It takes a lot of effort out of yourself and the entire staff is there all the way with you. You have to be willing to participate 100% even if you have to push the machine to the maximum to benefits yourself I know I did so the results could keep me going. ECP has improved my life and my thanks to all to Dr. Rider and everyone of the staff at Bellin Hospital attached to Cardiology Associates especially Jill for the care and putting up with me we did a lot of learning together!!!
Bob Duquaine

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Bob during ECP therapy

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Two patients finished therapy this week with good results. Both feel better and have more energy. We hope they continue to do well.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Steve and Kathy coming back for ECP

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

I have a new patient starting this week. It is actually his second time. Steve had ECP therapy last year with such great results that he and his wife talked to his Cardiologist and decided to do it again. He is a stroke victim and really benefited from the therapy. His wife has an awesome blog about their journey(the link is on this site). I hope his results are as good this year.

Friday, February 4, 2011

GO PACK GO

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Thanks

I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful comments. This was my first blog and I have really enjoyed making it. I really enjoy my job and wanted a resource for Physicians, health care workers and patients to use. I would love to know if anyone else out there reading this does ECP. Please let me know. It would be great to trade ideas. Thanks for your appreciation. Jill

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My name is Richard Makos 72 years old

First heart attack was in 1973. My second heart attack was in 1976. I had bypass surg (4) in 1987. And another bypass surg in 1995 (5). My third heart attack came the day after Christmas Dec 26 2009. With grateful care from Dr. Pathakjee & Dr.Verma, they suggested to me, for congestive heart failure, the program ECP. Until that time I was taking nitro at least 3 times per day.

Now after 22 treatments I have used nitro only 3 times total. My thanks to Jill, Cory and the rest of the good folks there in the lab. They make you feel like family at Bellin of Green Bay. The treatment is working.

I would like to thank both of you for giving me the chance of getting the ECP treatments. It has been very good for me. I do feel like a different person. It is so wonderful not to be popping a nitro always and my breathing is better. Once in awhile I have to take a pill, but nothing like before. My breathing is much better as long as I watch myself. I feel like a different person when I walk out of the clinic.

Everyone in the clinic are such great people. I couldn't ask for anything better. Keep up the good work. Jill, Wendy, and Cory do a great job. They make a person feel so good.

I feel I was blessed for these treatments. The treatments were given to me at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, WI.

Sincerely,

James Z.

testimonial

Testimonial:

I had heart bypass surgery in 1983. For about 15 to 20 years everything was OK with medication. But, for the last six or seven years, I had pain in my chest, less energy, and shortness of breath. The use of nitroglycerine became more frequent. Going for a walk, throwing the ball for the dog, going up stairs, and even eating usually required the use of nitro. ECP was suggested treatment and I started to notice improvement about week four. With the final treatment in week seven, I can do all the above things with more energy, no pain, and no nitro. Bill age 72

March 29, 2010 1:21 PM
Kathy B. said...: Steve loved getting ECP because his legs felt so good and he could breathe so much better. Read more about it at the link below: http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/2010/01/19/ecp-treatments-completed/; March 29, 2010 8:41 PM

spicard said...: Great job, Jill. You are one of the big reasons the ECP program has been successful. You should be proud!; April 2, 2010 10:40 AM
richard mak0s said: hi jil i am going to the gym every day walking a little bit more every day then go on the bike a bit more every day so things are getting better
richard; April 2, 2010 6:39 PM
Ronald Rogers said...: I have now completed three weeks of treatment. I am using significantly less nitro. The incidence of angina is less frequent and it is also less intense. I hope the improvement continues. I enjoy listening to audio novels during the treatments.

While an individual is undergoing ECP, they have pneumatic stockings (also known as cuffs) on their legs and are connected to telemetry monitors that monitor their heart rate and rhythm. The most common type in use involves three cuffs placed on each leg (on the calfs, the lower thighs, and the upper thighs (or buttock)). The cuffs are timed to inflate and deflate based on the individual's electrocardiogram. The cuffs should ideally inflate at the beginning of diastole and deflate at the beginning of systole. During the inflation portion of the cycle, the calf cuffs inflate first, then the lower thigh cuffs and finally the upper thigh cuffs. Inflation is controlled by a pressure monitor, and the cuffs are inflated to about 300 mmHg.

When timed correctly, this will decrease the afterload that the heart has to pump against, and increase the preload that fills the heart, increasing the cardiac output.^[4] In this way, ECP is similar to the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Since it increases pressure in the aorta while the heart is relaxing (during diastole) ECP also increases blood flow into the coronary arteries, which also occurs during that phase.

From The American Heart Association

What is external counterpulsation?

This is a noninvasive technique to increase oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart and to reduce the heart's workload. It's performed over a series of several weeks, with each session lasting from one to two hours. Pressure cuffs on the legs are inflated in sequences. As a result, the blood vessels in the legs are gently compressed and the blood is forced back to the heart. This technique

lowers the pressure the heart must pump against
increases the rate of return of blood to the heart
increases blood pressure while the heart is resting

When is external counterpulsation used?

It's used to decrease pain from angina pectoris. Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It happens because the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood and oxygen for the work it's doing.

External counterpulsation improves the balance between the amount of oxygen the heart needs and the amount it gets. Both these changes reduce the pain of angina, increase level of exercise and decrease the need for medication.

Testimonial from Ronald Rogers

I would like to thank Dr. James Rider, Jill, Wendy and the ECP staff at Cardiology Associates in Green Bay, WI for their kind care during my treatments. I am coming to the end of my series of ECP treatments and am more than pleased with the results. I have had a heart condition since I had a heart attack at age 35. I am now 72 years old. I had triple bypass surgery some 25 years ago.

I have had significant angina on and off over the years. During the last ten years the pain has become more and more debilitating. Over the years I have used several different medications to control my condition. I have used nitro regularly to relieve angina. Within the last couple of years I received 5 stents in an effort to relieve the pain. The results were not successful.

My cardiologist, Dr. Pathakjee of Cardiology Associates suggested I might try this course of treatment. The angina occurs seldom now and when it does it is of less intensity. The pain is of shorter duration, so my use of nitro is minimal. I live about fifty miles from door to door to Cardiology Associates and that has meant a three hour chunk of time out of my day. It has been worth it. My comfort, energy, and quality of life is improving substantially.

I know you are working to improve the treatment equipment and our site has been chosen to test it. I do find the new equipment somewhat less comfortable than the old. The pulsation seems a little more harsh. Thank you again to all who have worked with me during my treatments.

Cardiomedics’ patented Graduated Pressure Regimen is the only clinically proven system, published in a peer-reviewed journal, to reduce all cause mortality in Class II, III, and IV Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients from 19% to 1.85% and lower hospitalizations by 85.7%. No other ECP manufacturer has been able to demonstrate results that show any reduction in mortality and hospitalizations in these three classes of CHF patients. This unique and effective approach to patient care illustrates Cardiomedics commitment to improving the quality of life of all cardiac patients. The Graduated Pressure Regimen allows Cardiomedics to lead the way in treating Class IV CHF patients, many of whom improve one to two Classes and enjoy a quality of life once thought lost to them.

The ECP device offered by Cardiomedics, Inc. provides a non-invasive treatment for patients with Angina and/or Congestive Heart Failure. ECP treatment is typically provided on an outpatient basis in 35 one-hour sessions over a period of approximately seven weeks. Additional hours may be safely and effectively added to this standard regimen if the physician evaluation of the patient’s response to treatment will result in greater relief of angina symptoms. In certain circumstances, adjusting the patient’s treatment regimen to two hours per day can make it more comfortable for the patient to complete a course of ECP therapy.

To receive ECP therapy, the patient reclines on a treatment table. Three sets of comfortable, inflatable cuffs (similar to blood pressure cuffs) are snugly and securely wrapped around the patient’s calves, thighs and buttocks. The cuffs are inflated sequentially at the onset of diastole and deflated before the onset of systole. The inflation and deflation are specifically timed with the patient’s ECG to optimize therapeutic benefit. This sequence increases coronary perfusion pressure and venous return to the right heart (increasing preload and cardiac output). The simultaneous deflation, at the onset of systole, rapidly decreases cardiac afterload (creating systolic unloading) of the heart.

ECP at Cardiology Associates in Green Bay Wisconsin

From Cardiomedics

Friday, July 29, 2011

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Bob during ECP therapy

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Friday, February 25, 2011

Steve and Kathy coming back for ECP

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Friday, February 4, 2011

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Thanks

Richard finishing ECP therapy

Jim getting ready for ECP

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