Ejection fraction

[Marymara]

Hi everyone , just joined , ejection fraction ,Mine is normal but preserved, what does then mean any answers so needed please. I take it preserved means good?

[Yumz199725]

I have exact same problem and I had questions just like you I think it just means normal ejection fraction in medical words x but if you want some reassurance speak to your doctor?? X

[Marymara in reply to Yumz199725]

I don't think its normal, surely it would report normal?

[Yumz199725 in reply to Marymara]

I'm still confused as to what it means then? Sorry I can't help x

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Marymara]

"Preserved" usually means "normal" despite the other findings. So for instance your heart might have leaky valves, but still be compensating by pumping a little harder. That could be described as "mitral valve regurgitation with preserved ejection fraction".

But ejection fraction is only one measurement -- it only accounts for the percentage of the blood sucked in that gets pumped out. If not enough blood is sucked in, your body might still find itself short of oxygen even with a "normal" ejection fraction. This is known as "heart failure with preserved ejection fraction".

So it all depends on what the other findings in the report are.

[Marymara in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Interesting, thankyou, I started with Atrial fibrillation, then they found congenital PAPVR, plumping wrong, I'm just assuming I have heart failure one cardiologist made reference to it,I'm not sure my BNP is high but he said it would be when in AF ,these cardiologist use the words meaning different to what patients understand,heart failure to me is terrifying to doctors it can mean heart not functioning 100 per cent, I feel rubbish don't know if it's my anxiety.

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Marymara]

Yeah, so your left ventricle is pumping normally (preserved EF), but because some of the blood coming back from your lungs is going to the wrong chamber (PAPVR), your body isn't getting as much oxygen as it would like (which doctors term "heart failure").

I don't know how AFib would fit in to all this; my issues were all valvular.

Have they suggested surgery to correct your plumbing?

[Marymara in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

At first I saw an understudy doctor who said I would need an op, but when I saw the consultant no talk of it, apparently it's all down to the shunt.

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Marymara]

Yeah, it's amazing how adaptable the heart is to different issues.

[Marymara in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

I find the whole thing so scary.

[Maydayuk in reply to Marymara]

Hi, I commented a moment ago. I had open heart surgery. My percentage was 45 a few weeks after surgery, that measurement put me into heart failure miraculously my heart got stronger it's now 55 which is no longer heart failure. Have they told you your measurement.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

There are several different types of heart function problems. The normal range of ejection fraction of blood is 55- 70%.

Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction

HFrEF

This means the heart muscle is weakened and cannot pump well.

Heart Failure with preserved ejection fraction

HFpEF

If the heart muscle becomes stiffened, a condition called diastolic dysfunction can happen. The lower left chamber of the heart can't fill properly which leads to HFpEF.

HFpEF is more common in women.

Possible causes are high blood pressure, being over weight, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and being older.

I live with a heart condition that increases my chances of developing this type of heart failure.

The BHF has this information about

heart function problems.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Marymara in reply to Milkfairy]

Yes I have diastolic by all accounts, iv pieced this together myself after reading my reports, my right ventricle is dilated, and stiff

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Marymara]

Maybe give the BHF helpline a call and speak to one of the cardiac nurses? bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Have you got a follow-up appointment with a Cardiologist or Clinical Nurse Specialist?

They are best placed to explain your heart condition to you.

If not perhaps make an appointment with your GP and discuss your reports with them.

[Marymara in reply to Milkfairy]

GP don't know, iv no trust in any of them, but thankyou, it was a doctor who told me in the beginning I would have to have an op

[Marymara in reply to Milkfairy]

Does anyone know how they measure the percentage of how the hearts functioning, some people on here say their heart is 30 per cent, is that the EF?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Marymara]

Ejection fraction can be measured by an echocardiogram or cardiac MRI. The normal Ejection Fraction, EF is between 50 and 70%

Heart function can also be assessed by a NTproBNP blood test.

[Sharpglo in reply to Marymara]

Also, go,omto Youtube so many interesting videos from professionals. I have been so educated by this.

[PadThaiNoodles]

People usually quote the LVEF. (You can also measure the right ventricle EF, but that’s not as common, so if you see just EF it’s usually LVEF.)

Normal is something like 55-70%.

[bluemoon572]

It's my observation that usually the EF is reported without the terms " reduced " or "preserved" except when there's a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. There's congestive heart failure with reduced EF because of weak heart muscle contractions and there's congestive heart failure with preserved EF when the heart muscle is stiff& can't relax properly but ejects blood out of the ventricle OK but at a smaller than normal amount.. This is called diastolic dysfunction. Both types are pathological. Your GP or cardiologist will inform you if you have congestive heart failure or give the reason for which "preserved" was part of your report. I hope this helps.

[Marymara in reply to bluemoon572]

Thankyou

[Goonerboy6661]

Hi and welcome! —“preserved” does sound good, and in a way, it is. It means your heart’s pumping strength (ejection fraction) is in the normal range.

Sometimes, though, doctors use the term HFpEF (Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction) if the heart isn’t relaxing or filling quite as well as it should. This can still cause some symptoms like breathlessness or tiredness, even though the pump function looks fine.

The good news is that it’s often manageable, especially with healthy lifestyle steps and the right support. Lots of people with preserved EF do very well long-term.

[Marymara in reply to Goonerboy6661]

Thankyou

[Bigmark61]

check out this web site I got a lot of help and answers from it. pumpingmarvellous.org

[Maydayuk]

It means still working as it should despite what heart condition you have. Your fraction can change if the blood flow changes. So preserved means OK. It's just how they measure the flow. This is how I was told. I'm no doctor.

[Marymara in reply to Maydayuk]

Thankyou

[Prince123456]

Ejection Fraction normal range is between 55 a 70, mine was 55 LEV and 65 REV, back in 2019 it’s now improved to 68 Left Ventricle and 65 R Ventricle

[Richie34]

I believe anything over a consistent value of 50% ejected at each contraction cardiologists consider normal. I was concerned when my first echo gave a 'good' result of 65% but after my PCI was only 54% so I raised this with my cardiologist but reassured me 54% was ok and can depend on a number of factors such as how relaxed you are,the time of day and even the echo operative. Speak to your cardiologist to get the information you need is my advice.

[Jedi14]

There is a proper meaning, just google it - full explanation is given.

[A246]

Hello Marymara, I know any conditions concerning the heart are confusing and scary my dear friend. Please try and think of your ejection fraction as good, that is all that matters as every single percentage we have means our heart is still working. My first was 16% two years ago from nowhere, my left ventricle was severely impaired. I came out terrified and confused. But I went straight into fight mode. My EF is now 60% and my left ventricle has shrunk back to near normal size and thickness . I have been told by consultants they didn't see this coming. It is a miracle. Mine improved gradually. 16 to 22 then 60. I was grateful for 22 now 60 wowww .Please don't worry about too much detail buddy, enjoy life we are the lucky onesx

[Marymara in reply to A246]

Thakyou so much, your are an inspiration.

[A246 in reply to Marymara]

So are you dearest friend, we are all survivers and we are here. We are the lucky ones. Some of our brothers and sisters were bravest people people I have ever known. They all gave me hope from the very beginning in my darkest early days of my heart failure journey. They all taught me one thing especially, and that was how to be brave and come out fighting. Since then it is my passion to support my fellow heart failure buddies. Stay strong my friend. Share your passion with othersxx

[A246 in reply to A246]

I also had atrial fibrillation that caused me to collapse and be hospital three times. I was lucky to have the allblation and I am now in full remission. How lucky is that buddy xxx

[A246 in reply to A246]

I thank god and my buddies on here every day. Xx

[Marymara in reply to A246]

Thankyou

[topsy5 in reply to A246]

I’m in similar situation to you. Last year my EF was 10% but has slowly improved to 40%

Also have A-fib

Now that your EF is back to normal do you still have to take all the medication - have you discussed with your cardiologist?

I get really bad side effects and would like to reduce/stop meds especially if EF continues to improve.

I’m seeing cardiologist soon and will ask this question.

Also am wondering if EF back to normal does that mean you no longer have heart failure?

[Marymara in reply to topsy5]

I'm not the person to ask, I'm totally confused with it all, others factors to be considered I believe.

[A246 in reply to topsy5]

Hey buddy yes I still have to take all medication. I was told it is the medication that got me there and will keep me there as long as I take them. Without them I be back to low ef and large left ventricle

[Deepdiver]

Hi,I think preserved ejection is stiffening of the left ventricle and has trouble discharging blood out of that ventricle at times and can't fill properly. But I would get advice from a Cardiologist as soon as possible

[Marymara in reply to Deepdiver]

I'm under a cardiologist, but asking all my questions is impossible

[resistancewasfutile]

"Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. An ejection fraction of 60 percent means that 60 percent of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat." [source: heart.org/en/health-topics/...]

Heart Failure Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) means a value above 50 percent and reduced (HFrEF) is a value below 50 percent. It's posible to have a normal EF and have heart failure. Preserved is better than reduced.

There's been some big changes in treatments for pacing heart rates in cardiology guidelines in the last 5 years. The myPACE algorythym has been a game-changer for cardiologists to determin what a person's resting heart rate should be. Especially useful for someone with complete heart block and needing emergency pacemaker surgery. MyPACE ..OR 'Personalised Accelerated Pacing' is a maths equation that accurately calculates a probable resting heart rate using the paitent's height and EF.

Personalized HR (bpm) = (Height [cm] × –0.3744) + 134.82) × √√ (Ejection Fraction [%]/50).

For example, my pre-pacemaker MRI showed an EF of 62 percent. This divided by 50 equals 1.24 so...

Personalized HR (bpm) = (174 [cm] × –0.3744) + 134.82) × √√ (1.24/50)

Personalized HR (bpm) = 73.72

Rounding this down to 70 bpm has proven to be a happier place for my heart and feels more natural.

👇

myPACE

academic.oup.com/eurheartjs...