70-year-old patient with heart failure can’t fall asleep, and external counterpulsation therapy is ready to drive

[Newspaper/Zeng Peiteng/Hsinchu County Report]Uncle Hong, 70, had a history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure. Recently, he felt that his lower limbs were edema, breathing difficulties, and the symptoms of being unable to lie down at night became more and more serious. Lin Zhihong, director of the Cardiovascular Department of the Hsinchu Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University in a wheelchair, was diagnosed with cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Dr. Lin Zhihong also explained to his family that the patient is in critical condition. After nearly two months of treatment with an external counterpulsation device (EECP), the patient has walked on his own and can still drive.

“I used to pant and couldn’t sleep, but after treatment, I could sleep well. I used to breathe and hush when I climbed one floor. Now I can climb five floors with one breath, and I can walk 10,000 steps. Thank you very much for the doctor’s treatment.” Uncle Hong said.

Director Lin Jihong said that the left ventricular ejection rate was only 15.9% on the day of the patient’s visit, and it was more than 55% in the normal person. In addition, the left ventricular dilatation index was as high as 70mm and the normal person was below 52mm. The records and the medications given after admission are in line with the current standard treatment for heart failure, and the patients are also given appropriate medications, but the patient’s condition still cannot be improved very well.

The patient finally received EECP (external counterpulsation therapy). The patient’s long-term persistent atrial fibrillation and arrhythmia, the original treatment with drugs could not restore the cardiac fibrillation to normal, but after about two weeks of EECP treatment, it returned to normal. The patient’s heartbeat has remained normal since then. The entire course of treatment is about seven weeks, and each one hour of treatment time. Observed for nearly a year so far, he has continued to track the heart ultrasound. At present, his left ventricular ejection rate has increased from the original 15% to 49%, although It has not yet reached the normal standard, but the patient can now sleep peacefully, no longer need to get up in the middle of the night to breathe, no longer need to use oxygen, and no lower extremity edema.

Director Lin Jihong pointed out that EECP is a painless, safe, effective, non-invasive treatment that can treat angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction. After the patient completes the course of treatment, he can resume his daily routine and the treatment can be repeated. During the treatment, the lower extremities are squeezed with the compression leg cuff and the heartbeat. The mechanical action increases the diastolic pressure of the aorta and reduces the systolic pressure of the aorta. Without increasing the load on the heart, the coronary blood flow of the heart is increased and thus improved. Myocardial metabolism and function promote blood flow throughout the body; during the treatment, EECP uses the expansion of the tiny blood vessel network to develop new paths, especially near blocked arteries, which can increase blood flow, so it is called “natural bypass treatment”.

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