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• ECP provides a new treatment option

Miami Valley Cardiologists is among the few treatment centers in the area to provide a new therapy for treating patients with advanced cardiovascular disease and the severe chest pain, called angina. What causes angina? Every cell, muscle and tissue in your body uses the oxygen carried in your blood as fuel. It is the same for your body's blood pumping engine, the heart. If blood vessels bringing blood to the heart muscle are clogged or damaged, the heart muscle does not get the oxygen it needs - this condition is called atherosclerosis and often results in angina. This therapy is the last option for many angina sufferers. "ECP is a new way of treating severe angina," says Dr. Bal K. Srivastava. "Many angina sufferers have already had, or are not candidates for, traditional revascularization procedures such as angioplasty or bypass surgery. Until now, drug therapy was the only treatment available to them. Unfortunately, many of these patients continue to have angina, even while on drug therapy. They have no other treatment options. Their disease has sentenced them to a life of angina. Here's where ECP can really make a difference."

• Revascularization of the heart

ECP is the latest innovation in treating heart disease. ECP provides assistance to the heart and other muscle/tissue by sequentially inflating reusable, fabric cuffs, which are fastened with Velcro® about the lower extremities. These inflations are synchronized with the patient's heart rate. Compression of the cuffs during the heart's resting period, forces blood from the legs and buttocks up to the heart, reducing the work effort of the heart and increasing the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle and the rest of the body. As a result, ECP can be beneficial in several ways. Myocardial and other muscle/tissue perfusion can be increased. Cardiac efficiency can also be improved by ECP decreasing the workload of the heart. This can also aid in returning blood flow to the hands and feet, to a more normal level and therefore reduce the presence of coldness in those areas.

• An improved quality of life

According to the American Heart Association, more than 7.2 million people in the United States have a history of chest pain and as many as 60,000 people have chronic angina. Thousands have a condition so severe that they are forced to make significant changes in their lifestyle - unable to work - or worse, unable to do simple chores like walking up stairs, carrying groceries, or washing their own hair. Even getting dressed can be exhausting. These people are often forced to remain inside their homes in relative seclusion.

Through ECP, more oxygenated blood flow is delivered to the heart muscle and the rest of the body, which reduces, and/or eliminates not only chest pain, but also helps the patient become less, or no longer, reliant on some medications. The bottom line is a much improved quality of life. Some patients have been heard to say, "ECP has literally given my life back to me." Another patient's husband says, "Since ECP, I really try to limit my wife's activities to an hour at a time, otherwise I can't keep up with her. She's walked with a cane for a long time now since that therapy she forgets where she's left it."

• Medicare and Insurance

Medicare and most other health insurers have accepted ECP into their coverage and payment policies. Our staff will be glad to assist you in determining that your insurance company approves ECP in your plan.

If you or someone you know might be a candidate for ECP, or if you would just like more information about ECP therapy, call 937-223-4518 and ask to speak to one of our staff.

• More MVC Patient Testimonials

As a part of our therapy, each patient is asked to fill out a testimonial card, relating how their angina symptoms affected them before and after ECP therapy. Here are just a few;

Before: "I don't feel too bad when I am just sitting around, but when I walk, even from one room to the next, I have chest pain. I also have chest pain when driving the car under stress. I have a 2 yr. old granddaughter that likes grandma to carry her, I try, but it doesn't last too long."

After: "I didn't think that when I wrote the 'before' segment, that I would say this, but I am 100% better! I can walk, uphill even, without any pains! It's made a BIG difference for me!"

After one month, this patient stated that she is doing well. She is walking five days a week, which she could not do before her ECP treatments. She said that since completing her treatments, she has only had one incident of chest pain, and only has "some" shortness of breath. Both of which is an improvement from ECP. (DB-50)

Before: "Every day I feel that I have absolutely no energy, tired, and filled with frustrations, because of being so limited by my angina. I have a high energy job that I can barely keep up with right now. At this point in my life, I have no energy for the every day things, infrequent chest pains and shortness of breath, can't walk too much due to leg pains."

After: "I feel SO MUCH better! I can even sleep better. My angina is much less frequent, and my energy level has greatly improved, at times, I feel great, like my old self again! I have realized that I'll still need to do things in moderation. ECP has helped me gain so much more than I had before, I am very appreciative!" (MH-71)

Before: "Shortness of breath and my chest hurting is no kind of life. Just for walking around the corner, I'll have to take a 'nitro', sometimes more several times a day and night. I feel the Lord will bless me to feel better some day."

After: "I feel that this treatment has helped me a LOT! I can breathe a lot better without hurting. I can do things at home without being tired and I can even walk farther without having angina or needing a 'nitro'. Overall, I am very happy with the outcome. (RB-68)

Before: "Discomfort in upper chest area after exertion. I take one 60mg Imdur tablet a day, and I have shortness of breath with exertion."

After: "I exercise 3 times a week without chest pain. I walk the treadmill at 3.4mph at an 8.5% incline. NO nitro for the last 2 weeks, and I have more pep overall." (PK-65)

Before: "Short of breath, low or no energy level, angina, and I sleep a lot."

After: "I feel better, have more energy and I don't sleep all the time."

After one month, he said that he has no more chest pain or need for nitroglycerin since completing his ECP treatments. He continues to have a high activity level and takes daily walks without angina. He says, "I'M CURED!" (OP-48)

Physicians and Mid-Level Providers

Thomas G. Thornton, MD, FACC
Joseph P. Malone, MD, FACC
Stephen C. Schreck, MD, FACC
James M. Pacenta, MD, FACC
Stephen C. Wenzke, MD, FACC
Mark E. Krebs, MD, FACC
B.K. Srivastava, MD, FACC
Wayel Azmeh, MD, FACC
Mukul S. Chandra, MD, FACC
Steven R. Jain, MD
Hema L. Pandrangi, MD, FACC
Eddie D. Davenport, MD, FACC
Kathrine Mattingly, RN, MPAS, PA-C
Lisa M. Grow, PA-C
Angel Bailey, MSN, APRN ACNP-BC
Kristin B. Spitznagel, MPAS, PA-C