The Effect of Enhanced External Counter Pulsation on Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function

Enhanced external counter pulsation (EECP) is a procedure performed on patients with ischemic heart disease. The treatment improves physical capacity and relieves angina pectoris. It is suitable for patients with persistent angina pectoris despite and for patients not amendable for coronary revascularization. Some studies demonstrate a relationship between diastolic and systolic blood pressure ratio (d/s ratio) and the effect of EECP. The aim of the investigators study is to understand the effect of EECP on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function assessed by trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE). Hypothesis: EECP improves left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. There is a relationship between d/s ratio and aortic arterial stiffness EECP improves left ventricular diastolic function Standard TTE would be performed prior the EECP procedure, which lasts 60 min., and repeated every 15 minutes. Moreover the investigators would measure pulse wave velocity, a measure of aortic arterial stiffness, in order to investigate the relationship between the d/s ratio and arterial stiffness. The patients would be recruited among former study patients who have undergone EECP before. 20 patients with the best acoustic conditions would be selected and invited to enroll into the study.