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What Is Heart Ejection Fraction?

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Posted on Thu, 24 Dec 2015
Question: My husband's heart doctor recommendrd that he have a 3 year old cow mitral valve removed and a mechanical valve put in. On Sept 1st of this year,they did surgery under his right arm. A LARE incision that ended up with a broken rib because when removing the failing cow mitral valve, it weakened the heart wall and had to have a patch put in. On Sept 6, when getting ready to leave the hospital, his patch blew through the heart wall and he had to have additional open hert surgery through the front of his chest..they removed the new mechanical valve and put a huge patch (That has a SMALL leak that they say should heal itself) and then a new valve put in. He has had a terrible time...had to go back in the hospital to have liquid removed from his lung and was put on oxygen. He is off the oxygen but can only walk slowly I asked about the refraction rate for my heart and got the (It will be tested in January 2016) I just wanted to know if this was ever heard of before. All I got was questions that Icouldnot answer.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Clarification required

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query. However, it is not exactly clear to me what you seek to know. When talking about refraction rate, I think you are actually taking about Ejection Fraction of the heart. It denotes the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each contraction of the heart. This is measured by echocardiography.

You could also be talking about effusion which is the other name of collection of fluid. It can occur either around the lungs (pleural effusion) or within the outer covering of the heart (pericardial effusion).

I would be glad if you specify your query.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (10 hours later)
I usd the wrong word. Ejection fraction is the correct word. Have you ever heard of this happening and the following result ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Already discussed

Detailed Answer:
Yes, I have already discussed about ejection fraction in my last reply. Let me know if you wish to know anything further.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (22 hours later)
My question is not about the ejection fraction. My question is:::

Have you ever heard of the heart wall being MADE TOO thin and patched ..AN THEN ..THE PATCH BLOWING OUT making an additional operation necessary ....and what was the actual outcome. A LARGE PATCH in the heart and his recovery being at 2 months he is only able to walk really slowly or get really dizzy? HOW LONG...IN A CASE LIKE my husband (if YOU EVER HEARD OF ONE) WAS IT TO GET BACK TO BE ABLE TO WALK WITH ANOTHER PERSON AND NOT HAVE THEM WAITING FOR ME. Is it wrong for us to worry and wonder. The blood thinner is different for a mechanical heart valve (Wafarin) and cow tissue. He now has both in his heart. Cow tissue for the lining of his heart...and mechanical for the valve.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Such things do occur.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for clarifying.
I understand your situation. Unfortunately, open heart surgeries can have miserable outcomes.

The rate of surviving the operation itself is not very high - your husband has successfully crossed this stage.

The post operative mortality is high too - your husband may consider himself lucky in this aspect too.

Finally, the post operative morbidity and complications - your husband has got stuck here. Incidentally, this or something else, complications like this DO occur. A patch blowing off - is not uncommon and so is the issue of being too thin.

I am not saying that this is acceptable or satisfactory, I am saying that such things do happen.

It is very hard to predict how long it will take for your husband to be fully well. Individual differences are there and all you need to do is to hold yourself together and to encourage your husband to push through.

I am sure that things would soon be fine again.

Regards
Note: click here to Consult a cardiac surgeon online. to know the best treatment option for your heart-related issues

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1954

Answered : 4467 Questions

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What Is Heart Ejection Fraction?

Brief Answer: Clarification required Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. I have gone carefully through your query. However, it is not exactly clear to me what you seek to know. When talking about refraction rate, I think you are actually taking about Ejection Fraction of the heart. It denotes the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each contraction of the heart. This is measured by echocardiography. You could also be talking about effusion which is the other name of collection of fluid. It can occur either around the lungs (pleural effusion) or within the outer covering of the heart (pericardial effusion). I would be glad if you specify your query. Regards