External counterpulsation for the treatment of myocardial ischemia.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a procedure that uses three sets of cuffs to compress the vascular beds of the leg and thigh in sequential manner timed to the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG). Results of nonrandomized studies performed at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Stony Brook and a multicenter randomized study performed at seven centers throughout the United States indicate that the procedure has beneficial hemodynamic and clinical effects in selected patients with chronic angina that is refractory to standard medical and surgical therapy.