Sisili specialised medical services opens first EECP Treatment Centre in Colombo

The EECP Treatment Centre in Colombo

 Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne at the opening of the HeartAid Centre

Sisili, a leader in the medical field, has now launched the HeartAid Centre, the first non-invasive treatment and outpatient management of cardiovascular diseases under the auspicious of Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne. The opening of the HeartAid Centre allows Sri Lankans to now have access to the newest enhanced external counter pulsation therapy system. 

The Minister stated: “Non-Communicable Diseases are increasingly becoming a burden to Sri Lanka and is now among the top priorities of the Ministry of Health. Nearly 65% of the hospital deaths in Sri Lanka are due to major non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Heart conditions are considered medical emergencies and need prompt attention by specialists, and with the introduction of such modern non-invasive treatment by the private sector, patients have access to treatment opportunities locally. Today, we see the addition of a yet another specialised treatment unit. The Ministry of Health welcomes this move as this will further enhance the national capacity in delivering a quality health service to our people.”

National Hospital of Sri Lanka Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Gotabaya Ranasinghe, who was also a distinguished invitee at the launch, said: “This is a long-awaited treatment option for patients who don’t get maximum benefit from optimum anti-anginal treatment and who are not suitable for a surgical option.”

The EECP Therapy System is a non-invasive external counter pulsation device for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic stable angina that is refractory to optimal anti-anginal medical therapy without options for revascularisation. It is the latest line of devices for the treatment of patients with advanced heart disease, including angina and heart failure. The Therapy System incorporates a modern ergonomic design that improves patient comfort, enhances patient monitoring, increases ease-of-use by medical personnel, standardises cuff pressures and reduces space requirements.Data from clinical studies and patient registries confirm that approximately 80% of patients who complete EECP therapy experience significant relief from chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) symptoms, including reduction or elimination of angina, reduced need for medication, increased functional capacity and improved quality of life. Published data show that the benefit of EECP therapy is durable and can persist for up to five years. For patients who are good candidates for the treatment, EECP therapy is considered a high benefit and low cost option.

EECP external counter-pulsation treatment is typically given in 35 one-hour-sessions over seven weeks. EECP Therapy System is an integrated, all-in-one design comprised of an air compressor, a computer, a pressure cuff set tailored to the patient’s size and an ergonomically designed treatment table. Patients lie down on the padded table and their calves and lower and upper thighs are wrapped in the cuff set. The system, which is synchronised to the individual patient’s cardiac cycle, inflates the cuffs with air to create external pressure when the heart is resting (diastole) and deflates the cuffs just before the heart beats (systole). The system’s action, which pulses counter to the heart’s beating, increases blood flow to the heart muscle and decreases the heart’s workload, creating a greater oxygen supply for the heart muscle while lowering the heart’s need for oxygen.

EECP therapy is an FDA cleared, Medicare approved, non-invasive outpatient therapy for treating patients who are experiencing the symptoms of angina and heart failure. More than 80 articles published in leading American medical journals document significant benefits to patients suffering from angina and congestive heart failure, including improvements in exercise capacity, peak oxygen consumption and quality of life.

For more details on EECP, contact the HeartAid Centre on 0114504662/3.