Question 1

can you define cardiac output and ejection fraction?

Accepted Answer

Related: Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped out by heart in each minute (typically around five liters per minute).  Ejection fraction is the fraction of blood that heart recieves in each heart beat that is pumped out (typically 55-65% being normal).

Question 2

difference between the cardiac output and ejection fraction?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac output: Stroke volume times heart rate equals cardiac output. Stroke volume relates to myocardial contractility, vascular resistance, vascular volume, anemia and metabolic state. There are subcomponents to all of these. Ejection fraction is a measure of contractility.

Question 3

would low cardiac output show up on an echo? i seem to have the symptoms but echo was fine. cannot find ejection fraction listed, though.

Accepted Answer

Cardiac output: If the echo was "fine" then one assumes a normal ejection fraction; there is no generally accepted echo technique to estimate low cardiac output ;with a structurally normal heart it is highly unlikely in absence of other comorbidity to sustain a low CO stete

Question 4

in a highly trained athlete with eccentric hypertrophy of both ventricles, what is the significance of a high ejection fraction (80%) and high fractional shortening (50%)? cardiac output is also high, cardiac index at 6.4 or so?

Accepted Answer

: Depends on whether the study was performed at rest or during exercise. The ejection fraction is usually lower at rest , but may increase during vigorous exercise. A cardiac index of 6.4 , if recorded at rest is much greater than usual unless there is significant bradycardia which may occur in athletes at rest. More detail (resting heart rate, heart size etc) would help to interpret better.

Question 5

if left ejection fraction is maintained in diastolic heart failure, why is the cardiac output decreased?

Accepted Answer

Think stiffness: In diastolic dysfunction, the heart muscle tends to be stiff, so that it doesn't "relax" well and fill with blood.  So even if the heart can pump blood forward OK, if it doesn't fill up appropriately, then it won't function optimally ...

Question 6

35-40% cardiac ejection fraction during pregnancy. 11weeks. how serious is this? what shld i do? do i need to restrict activities, etc?

Accepted Answer

Important Info: It is important to know if there is history of a depressed EF. One might think that this could be peripartum cardiomyopathy but this usually presents in the final weeks of pregnancy or the week after that.
This does not mean that could not happen in the first trimester but it would be unusual.
It would be important to rule out any type of congenital disorder in the echocardiogram.

Question 7

can ejection fraction of 35% after heart attack... in general be improved by cardiac excersize, or meds only. is ef based only on amt of damage?

Accepted Answer

EF: Ejection fraction is a measure of contractile function. It is related to the state of the muscle and the preload and afterload of the heart. When decreased by heart attack, it may improve a bit with healing, or revascularization; sometimes a bit by meds but large improvements are not usual.

Question 8

is it normal to have an ejection fraction of 64% on echocardiogram and a ejection fraction of 57% on cardiac mri? with the same heart.

Accepted Answer

Yes: Perfectly normal. They're both normal. EF depends on loading conditions.  It can vary - all within the normal range. Moreover, different measuring techniques will yield different results. A nuclear gated scan may find your EF is 61%.  A contrast ventriculogram may find it's 59%  We often simply read is as &gt;55% to avoid the kind of concern you're having.

Question 9

echo after 5 weeks of female 58 yrs rescue angioplasty followed by cardiac arrest showed ejection fraction 39% with pap = 40. any need to worried?

Accepted Answer

You have CAD: You have coronary artery disease. Take it seriously. Ejection fraction is low but not critical. Follow your dr`s advice and stop smoking.

Question 10

hello i have recently had an echo cardiogram and it shows my ef (teich) at 87% im concerned that i am now at risk of hcm or cardiac arrest with such a high ejection fraction. report states non dilated lv with good lv systolic contractility?

Accepted Answer

: Sounds good to me but would need to see it to comment more.  Discuss with local team.

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Doctor answers about:

Can you define cardiac output and ejection fraction

A member asked:

Can you define cardiac output and ejection fraction?

A member asked:

Difference between the cardiac output and ejection fraction?

A member asked:

Would low cardiac output show up on an echo? i seem to have the symptoms but echo was fine. cannot find ejection fraction listed, though.

A member asked:

In a highly trained athlete with eccentric hypertrophy of both ventricles, what is the significance of a high ejection fraction (80%) and high fractional shortening (50%)? cardiac output is also high, cardiac index at 6.4 or so?

A member asked:

If left ejection fraction is maintained in diastolic heart failure, why is the cardiac output decreased?

A member asked:

35-40% cardiac ejection fraction during pregnancy. 11weeks. how serious is this? what shld i do? do i need to restrict activities, etc?

A member asked:

Can ejection fraction of 35% after heart attack... in general be improved by cardiac excersize, or meds only. is ef based only on amt of damage?

A member asked:

Is it normal to have an ejection fraction of 64% on echocardiogram and a ejection fraction of 57% on cardiac mri? with the same heart.

A member asked:

Echo after 5 weeks of female 58 yrs rescue angioplasty followed by cardiac arrest showed ejection fraction 39% with pap = 40. any need to worried?

A member asked:

Hello i have recently had an echo cardiogram and it shows my ef (teich) at 87% im concerned that i am now at risk of hcm or cardiac arrest with such a high ejection fraction. report states non dilated lv with good lv systolic contractility?

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