Vasomedical's EECP Therapy Highlighted in Satellite Symposium Preceding this Year's Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology and in Studies Presented During ACC.

Business Editors and Medical/Health Writers

WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BW HealthWire)--March 20, 2002

Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VASO)

Vasomedical Supports Special University of Minnesota Sponsored

CME Symposium on EECP 

New Studies Presented at ACC Demonstrate Effectiveness of

EECP Therapy in Women and the Elderly

Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VASO) announced that its EECP therapy had a strong presence at the 2002 Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) as evidenced by the presentation of several new studies and more than 200 persons in attendance at a special CME symposium sponsored by the University of Minnesota and supported by an educational grant from Vasomedical preceding this year's ACC entitled "EECP: Current Experience and Future Directions."(a)

Thought leaders presenting at the symposium reviewed currently accepted treatment strategies for patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease and discussed the role of EECP external counterpulsation therapy in today's clinical setting. Some of the topics covered included a summary of clinical trial results, mechanisms of action, current use and patient selection.

Highlights of the symposium included a discussion by Arthur Feldman, MD, Director, Cardiovascular Institute of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who provided three hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of action of EECP. Emphasizing the need for novel revascularization strategies, David Holmes Jr., MD, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota stated that, "It is estimated that there are about 2.5 million patients in the United States with coronary disease not amenable to coronary surgery or [percutaneous coronary interventions]". After medication, coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions are the two most commonly used techniques for improving coronary blood flow in patients with ischemic heart disease.

"Attendance at the symposium exceeded our expectations," said D. Michael Deignan, President and CEO of Vasomedical. "This heightened interest clearly indicates to me the extent to which EECP is being accepted as an effective treatment for angina. More importantly, this symposium stimulated further discussion of the future utility of EECP in such areas as congestive heart failure, diabetes and acute coronary syndromes ... areas in which the Company has ongoing or planned clinical trials. As acceptance of EECP as a method for revascularizing patients grows, so too will its role as a tool in cardiovascular disease management."

In addition, three studies on the effectiveness of EECP therapy in certain subsets of angina patients were reported at the ACC. All of the studies presented analyzed data from angina patients enrolled in the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR) maintained by the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health.

A study entitled "Do Women Refractory to Angina Respond as Well as Men to Treatment with Enhanced External Counterpulsation?" analyzed 3,126 consecutive patients (Male = 2,340 and Female = 786). The authors concluded that, despite a higher incidence of diabetes and heart failure, women treated with EECP improved equally and significantly in angina class reductions and quality of life measures as compared to men.

Another study, entitled "Enhanced External Counterpulsation Reduces Angina and Improves Quality of Life in Elderly Unrevascularizable Patients," analyzed data from 863 elderly (>75 years of age) angina patients enrolled in the IEPR that were not considered candidates for further revascularization procedures. In this severely ill cohort of patients who underwent noninvasive EECP therapy, the authors reported significant reductions in angina, reductions in the number of angina episodes and reductions in the use of nitroglycerin. In addition, patient assessed quality of life scores were also significantly improved post-treatment.

Lead author Georgiann C. Linnemeier, MD, Medical Director of HeartGen Centers of Indianapolis, stated "Symptomatic coronary artery disease in elderly patients is of immense public health and economic importance. In the group of elderly patients who are unsuitable for revascularization, EECP provides an innovative tool that improves functional outcomes and quality of life."

Rohit Arora, MD, Chief of Cardiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School, presented another study entitled "Safety and Efficacy of Enhanced External Counterpulsation in Hypertensive Patients With Refractory Angina Pectoris: Short- and Long-Term Follow-Up." The study examined nearly 2,000 patients of which two-thirds were hypertensive (HTN). The HTN group was more likely to have had prior interventions, congestive heart failure (CHF) and a family history of coronary artery disease as well as more severe angina. After EECP treatment, more than 70% of patients in both groups showed similar reductions in anginal symptoms by decreasing at least one CCSC class. At six-months post-treatment, angina reduction was maintained similarly in both groups with more than 80% maintaining the reduction seen at post-EECP therapy. The authors concluded that EECP therapy is safe and effective in hypertensive patients with the achievement of similar reductions in angina to the non-HTN group; however, there was a slight increase in some adverse effects (like an exacerbation of CHF or episodes of unstable angina) both in the short-term and long-term.

Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting EECP external counterpulsation systems based on the Company's proprietary technology currently indicated for use in cases of angina, cardiogenic shock and acute myocardial infarction. EECP is a noninvasive, outpatient therapy for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system. The therapy serves to increase circulation in areas of the heart with less than adequate blood supply and may restore systemic vascular function. The Company is also actively engaged in research to determine potential benefits of EECP therapy in the management of other major vascular disease states, including congestive heart failure and diabetes. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP(R) equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient outcomes. EECP(R) is a registered trademark for Vasomedical's enhanced external counterpulsation system. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com.

(a) This event was not part of the official 2002 Scientific

Sessions of the American College of Cardiology as planned by

the ACC Committee on Scientific Sessions Program.

Except for historical information contained in this release, the matters discussed are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" and "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.