External counterpulsation (ECP) is a non-invasive medical treatment used to treat patients with angina (chest pain). The treatment involves the use of inflatable cuffs that are placed around the patient’s legs, which are inflated and deflated in sync with the patient’s heartbeat. The cuffs are designed to compress the patient’s leg blood vessels during diastole (the relaxation phase of the heart’s cycle), which increases blood flow to the heart and improves the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle and improving angina symptoms.
ECP is considered a safe and effective treatment for angina and has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with these conditions.