What is the significance of ejection fraction

Penn Heart and Vascular Blog. A low ejection fraction number can be an indicator of heart failure and can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:. A healthy heart contracts empties blood and relaxes refills blood times each minute. With each heartbeat, the heart pumps blood from the left and right ventricle. In most cases, ejection fraction refers to the percentage of blood that's pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat.

There are two types of ejection fraction: left ventricular and right ventricular. You can have a normal ejection fraction measurement and still have heart failure called HFpEF or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. If the heart muscle has become so thick and stiff that the ventricle holds a smaller than usual volume of blood, it might still seem to pump out a normal percentage of the blood that enters it. A ejection fraction measurement under 40 percent may be evidence of heart failure or cardiomyopathy.

Instead, it may indicate damage, perhaps from a previous heart attack. In severe cases, ejection fraction can be very low. Learn ways to improve your low ejection fraction. Your doctor may mention one of these two EF-related scenarios: Preserved ejection fraction HFpEF — also referred to as diastolic heart failure. The heart muscle contracts normally but the ventricles do not relax as they should during ventricular filling or when the ventricles relax.

Reduced ejection fraction HFrEF — also referred to as systolic heart failure. The heart muscle does not contract effectively, and therefore less oxygen-rich blood is pumped out to the body. What does it measure? Answer From Rekha Mankad, M. Multimedia Chambers and valves of the heart. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.

Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Bonow RO, et al. Heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. Elsevier; Accessed Feb. Ejection fraction heart failure measurement. American Heart Association. Common tests for heart failure.

Fuster V, et al. Diagnosis and management of heart failure. In: Hurst's the Heart. McGraw Hill; Srivastavadoi PK, et al. Heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction. Current Heart Failure Reports. Mankad R expert opinion.