As this population grows, so does the group for whom medications or the standard procedures won t work. EECP gives this group of patients another possible option. Patients often watch television during the treatment. Others bring compact disks or cassette players to listen to music or audiobooks. The entire process from the patient s arrival to departure takes between one and one half to two hours.
Most patients tolerate the therapy with few side effects.
The common side effects are mild headache, mild dizziness, fatigue or muscle aches. A small number of patients develop pressure sores or bruising from the cuff inflation.