The S.H. Ho Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Centre of CUHK pioneers in proving that external counterpulsation (ECP) can help to elevate blood pressure, enhance cardiac output and augment cerebral blood flow, thereby speeding up the recovery of stroke patients. ECP is a non-invasive treatment with six air cuffs wrapped around the patient’s hip, thighs and calves. While the heart is relaxing, the cuffs inflate to compress the blood vessels in the lower limbs and aorta so as to increase blood flow to the heart. When the heart pumps again, the cuffs deflate and pressure is released instantaneously which enables blood flow into the coronary arteries and vital organs like brain and kidneys, as well as improving the heart function. The results of study led by Prof. Lawrence Wong and Prof. Thomas Leung have been published in the September issue of the American journal Stroke.

For details, please click here.