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Is Ejection Fraction Of 15 A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Fri, 7 Apr 2017

Question: Hi how can a dr Say severe heart failure if pt has very mild symotoms ?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (2 minutes later)

it depends on the symptoms at the time of presentation like decreased blood pressure, low volume pulse. take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (5 minutes later)

Yes that was present n ejection fraction is 15 but symotoms are mild like breathlesness sometimes on activity .... also had fluid retention . So i was thinking how can be severe with mild symptoms?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It can present without respiratory distress

Detailed Answer:
hi,
welcome to hcm.
can understand your concern.

Ejection fraction is 15 percent which is very low. Severe heart failure can present without respiratory distress if progression is rapid. If progression is slow then respiratory distress increases with time. In blockage of vessels this can occur.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (4 hours later)

What stage would this be?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Its related to ejection fraction

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
welcome once again.

There is no staging in cardiac failure. It depends on the ejection fraction. If ejection fraction is very low then severity increases.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (2 minutes later)

Ok what would survival time approx me be ef of 15?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Depends on cause

Detailed Answer:
hi,

Survival chances depends on the cause like it is due to blockage and if blockage is removed then ejection fraction improve and patient will improve. But if it's organic like myocarditis then chances are bleak.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (1 hour later)

No blockage or nothing. They said heart disease progression

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Prognosis poor

Detailed Answer:
hi,

Then are very bleak and improvement will occur slowly.
What diagnosis they have made and what exact cause they found. Can you tell me associated symptoms like blood pressure etc.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (1 hour later)

Well he had a bypass surgery 6 yrs ago as has block arteries due to heart disease. That was done and also was told had heart damage.

Medication was given - beta blockers etc but had no further follow up. Recent had breathlesness sometime so went hosp. They did a heart scan and said heart failure and ef is 15

Bp was going down bit and pulse was up down.

But he dont have breathlesness at rest

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It's related to ejection fraction

Detailed Answer:
hi,

Let me explain you how breathlessness occurs, when the ejection fraction is less than there is back pressure and due to this back pressure there is increased pressure in pulmonary artery and due to that there is congestion in lungs leading to breathlessness. Another thing whenever ejection fraction become less there is less oxygen exchange between cells and this also lead to hypoxia and breathlessness. If ejection fraction doesn't improve then eventually breathlessness at rest also occur. Here, severity of cardiac failure is based on ejection fraction.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (1 hour later)

Can icd help with heart failure as such ?or is that for damgerous rhythm only

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Icd is for arrhythmia only

Detailed Answer:
hi,

ICD is used for heart failure treatment when the person is considered to be at high risk of dying from and abnormal heart rhythm. It is a small device that is implanted in the chest and continually monitors the heart rhythm. If cardiac failure is due to some other reason then this will not be useful.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (11 minutes later)

Ok yes. But the low ef can get worse right?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can improve or get worse depending on treatment

Detailed Answer:
hi,

ejection fraction can improve or decrease depending on the cause and the treatment approach. like if the cause is high blood pressure and we control the blood pressure levels then ejection fraction improved. In coronary artery disease if the blockage is removed then ejection fraction improved. Ejection fraction of 15%does not mean that it cannot improve. We have to look for the cause and create the condition which is leading to cardiac failure.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (12 minutes later)

They said its just heart disease progressing ... no bloackage or bp issues . Hes had heart damage and heart disease since 6 yrs they said

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chances of improvement seems less

Detailed Answer:
hi,

heart disease which can lead to heart failure include coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart muscle disease or inflammation of heart. I think a specific diagnosis should be made. But, since the disease is for last 6 years and as a result the ejection fraction has decreased to 15%, chances of getting ejection fraction better are seems less.

Take care.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj