Left Ventricle Function (LVF) assessment
The left ventricle (LV) of the heart is the chamber that pumps blood to the rest of the body. Left ventricular function is often affected in persons with heart failure.
The Joint Commission, in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, therefore recommends LV assessment as a key diagnostic test for persons with suspected heart failure.
The most common test to assess LV function is the echocardiogram, or "echo." This test helps the physician determine how the heart is affected.
A measure called the left ventricular ejection fraction or LVEF is used to check for damage due to heart attacks and other conditions. The LVEF value for a person with no heart damage is usually around 60 percent.
The most recent report (3rd qtr., 2008) shows 100% of UAMS eligible patients received the LVEF assessment, compared to the national average of 88% and the average for University Healthsystem Consortium hospitals of 99%. |
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