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Am I a candidate for EECP? |
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EECP is not for
everyone. The MUST-EECP study excluded patients who had a heart
attack or bypass surgery in the preceding three months. Anyone with
severe heart weakness or congestive heart failure was also omitted
from the trial. Because the timing of the compressors requires a
stable heart rhythm, anyone with cardiac rhythm abnormalities such
as atrial fibrillation or other irregularities was not included.
Patients who have very poor circulation of the legs or severe
varicose veins may be not tolerated the strong leg compressions that
are an integral part of EECP.
Patients aren¡¯t good candidates for EECP if they have left main artery disease, significant aortic insufficiency, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, severe peripheral vascular disease, lower extremity edema, or frequent atrial arrhythmia, have a history of deep vein thrombosis, or are pregnant. |
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