The heart functions as a powerful pump, circulating blood throughout the body to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Ejection fraction serves as a key measurement of the heart’s pumping efficiency, particularly significant for individuals with advanced heart conditions.
What is Ejection Fraction?
Ejection fraction (EF) quantifies the percentage of blood pumped out of a heart chamber with each contraction. It commonly refers to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), measuring oxygen-rich blood ejected from the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber. This measurement provides insight into the heart’s pumping ability.
Healthcare professionals measure ejection fraction using various imaging techniques. Echocardiography, which uses sound waves, is the most common method. Other techniques include cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans, and nuclear medicine scans.
A healthy heart typically has an ejection fraction ranging from 50% to 70%. An EF between 40% and 49% indicates mildly reduced pumping ability, while an EF of 39% or less signifies reduced pumping ability, often associated with heart failure. While a low EF points to weakened heart function, it is one of several indicators doctors consider.
Ejection Fraction and Heart Transplant Eligibility
For individuals with severe heart conditions, ejection fraction is an important factor for heart transplant eligibility. While no single, fixed number universally qualifies someone, a significantly low EF is often a strong indicator. An ejection fraction of 20% or less is frequently cited for transplant evaluation.
This low EF typically signifies end-stage heart failure, where the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands, despite optimal medical therapies. Such a reduced pumping capacity suggests heart disease has progressed to a point where a transplant may be the most viable treatment option. This guideline is part of a broader assessment, and individual patient circumstances always play a role.
Beyond Ejection Fraction: The Transplant Evaluation Process
Ejection fraction provides crucial information, but it is only one aspect of a thorough heart transplant evaluation. The process involves a comprehensive assessment to ensure a candidate is suitable for the demanding surgery and lifelong management. A multidisciplinary team, including cardiologists, surgeons, social workers, and other specialists, conducts this review.
Evaluations include assessing the function of other organs, such as the kidneys and lungs, to determine their ability to withstand the transplant procedure and post-operative recovery. Medical history is extensively reviewed for other conditions, like diabetes or certain cancers, which could affect the transplant’s outcome. Age is also considered, though specific age cutoffs can vary between transplant centers.
Lifestyle factors, including smoking and substance use, are evaluated, along with psychological stability and the presence of a strong social support system. These elements are important because successful outcomes depend heavily on the patient’s ability to adhere to a complex post-transplant regimen, which includes lifelong medication and regular follow-up appointments. The overall goal of this extensive evaluation is to identify candidates who are strong enough to endure the surgery and commit to the necessary long-term care.