Ludhiana, April 2 (IANS): An NRI, having eye and heart complications besides difficulty in walking even a few steps, successfully underwent a newly-introduced External Counter Pulsation (ECP) therapy, a hospital claimed here on Thursday.

According to hospital authorities, Mohan Singh, 45, working in Dubai for decades, was having difficulty in walking even a few steps.

He underwent angiography in 2010 and three stents were inserted in his coronary arteries. After a brief spell of relief, he had to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery again. But there was no respite for him despite the treatment.

Mohan Singh came in contact with a patient, who once had a similar medical condition but benefitted from ECP and Chelation Therapy -- a medical procedure involving the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body -- in India.

Though Mohan Singh suffered initial reservation about the new technology, his health complications compelled him to travel to India and meet S.S. Sibia, an ECP expert at Sibia Medical Centre.

According to Sibia, not many people prefer undergoing ECP as the technology is new. For this, the confidence has to be built.

He said in an ECP session, the patient lies on a padded table and four pairs of large inflatable cuffs - similar to blood pressure cuffs - are strapped around the calves, lower-thighs, upper-thighs and arms.

"The patient's heart is monitored by an electrocardiograph display in the ECP machine, which through the computer, regulates the inflation and deflation of the cuffs," Sibia said.

The ECP generally involves one-hour treatment, given 35 times, and it effectively dilates coronary blood vessels, opens dormant collaterals and stimulates creation of new blood vessels, he added.

After a non-invasive heart flow mapping test - Cardio-vascular Cartography, Sibia suggested that Singh should try the therapy which he finally did.

"I am fully satisfied with the treatment. It has helped me overcome my health complications to a great level," the NRI said.

Sibia said that after undergoing the therapy, Singh's health condition improved and he was able to walk without discomfort.

He said a lot of research has been conducted on ECP at various medical research institutions, and the results published in leading medical journals confirm the benefits of the therapy.

According to Sibia, several studies have confirmed that ECP is effective in patients suffering from angina, a condition marked by severe pain in the chest.

Researchers reported that patients not only maintained the gains they made during treatment, but continued to improve even after the treatment completed.

"We have treated patients from over 30 countries with various non-invasive treatments and most of our patients are satisfied," Sibia said.