Help me understand my results

[KateS24]

Google also gives me words I don’t know the meaning off

If anyone can help me understand what this means ..

There is a mild increase the size of the previously seen moderately dilated LV with mild reduction in the systolic function of the LV with LV ejection fraction currently 47% with akinetic apical segments..

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I suggest you contact the BHF Heart helpline nurse who should be to help.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Jedi14]

I found that too. I think one cannot possibly understand all these terms, they are meant for the experts.

However somethings are important, like "ejection fraction", that's how much your heart is pumping, I think the % is noteworthy and should be at least 50% to be considered ok or normal? I am not sure this value (47%) is for the whole heart or the LV part only in your case, check with the cardiologist. Let me know when you find out, thanks.

[Goonerboy6661]

Hi there, I can understand why that report sounds confusing — the wording is enough to worry anyone! Here’s what it’s basically saying:

Your heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) is a bit bigger than normal and isn’t pumping quite as strongly as it should. The ejection fraction (which is how well your heart pumps blood) is 47%. A normal reading is usually above 50%, so yours is just slightly below — this is called mildly reduced function. It also mentions that the tip of your heart (the apex) isn’t moving properly, which can sometimes happen after heart damage, like a previous heart attack.

Overall, the report is saying there’s mild heart muscle weakness, but nothing extreme or severe — it’s something your doctors will keep an eye on and help you manage.

Also, please don’t panic about the numbers. Many people live long, active lives with an ejection fraction like this. What matters is that it’s been spotted, you’re being looked after, and there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can support your heart.

[KateS24 in reply to Goonerboy6661]

that’s great thank you!! I had a heart attack and stroke last March, and Takotsubo…. When I left hospital my MRI was well improved,.. this one has declined slightly.. will be seeing the cardiologist in a few weeks maybe he will tweek my medication, thank you

[Qualipop in reply to Goonerboy6661]

What a wonderful reply in plain English. I could have done with you when I got my discharge letter after a HA. Luckily my GP translated it LOL.

[Granola70 in reply to Goonerboy6661]

thank you for that information it is so useful to know what all this information means it is reassuring thank you again

[TimeisTissue]

The jargon:

Akinetic means not moving.

Apical segments means parts at the tip of your heart.

Moderately dilated means slightly bigger than it should be.

Systolic function is the action of pushing blood out of your left ventricle to go around your body.

Your LV (left ventricle) ejection fraction is the amount of the blood in the biggest chamber of your heart that gets pumped out with each beat.

——

So in everyday English the report means that the biggest chamber of your heart where blood collects prior to being pumped round your body (the left ventricle LV) isn’t functioning quite optimally because some of the heart muscle at the tip isn’t moving properly. Your LV is pumping out 47% of the blood it contains each stroke whereas in a normal heart it would between 50 and 70%. This is classed as a mildly impaired ejection fraction.

Likely your doctors will keep you on blood thinners and anticlotting medications permanently and monitor your LV ejection fraction using regular echo tests. Unless that percentage falls over time you’ll simply find exercise mildly more difficult than you otherwise would but it should not dramatically effect your life.

[KateS24 in reply to TimeisTissue]

Thank you, this is following a stroke and heart attack last march, I still have a blood clot on my heart I was a bit disappointed to hear that it is still there and my function has dropped since then after it started to improve.. so see what they suggest next

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to KateS24]

Did they put you on warfarin or heparin to dissolve the clot?

[KateS24 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Warfarin I’ll be on it for life as I had 2 clots one of brain one on heart, they mechanically removed the brain one though

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to KateS24]

Same here. I have a mechanical heart valve so warfarin is required, but I also had a clot in my retina so I'm on aspirin as well (presumably for life).

[Granola70 in reply to TimeisTissue]

Thank you very informative