LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION

Course overview

LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION (LVEF) IS THE CENTRAL MEASURE OF LEFT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC FUNCTION. LVEF IS THE FRACTION OF CHAMBER VOLUME EJECTED IN SYSTOLE (STROKE VOLUME) IN RELATION TO THE VOLUME OF THE BLOOD IN THE VENTRICLE AT THE END OF DIASTOLE (END-DIASTOLIC VOLUME). STROKE VOLUME IS CALCULATED AS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EDV AND END-SYSTOLIC VOLUME (ESV). THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CALCULATION OF LVEF, ITS CLINICAL RELEVANCE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSED LVEF.