From EF42% to EF60% ???

[Luc]

An other question. I had a second echo this morning, this time at the Heart Institute and the result are quite surprising. On my first echo (June 10) this one at a general hospital my EF was 42% so the cardiologist labelled me as last stage of moderate, severe starting at 39%, so you can imagine my reaction.
This morning the echo (and it was check twice) came back with
an EF of 60% !!!!! EF at 60% is somewhat normal I believe.
I want to believe the Heart Institute , and I am so mad at the general hospital ! A good thing is that I still did not "fired" my first cardiologist and I will be going be for a echo Sept. 16 so I will have a third reading to compare .
My question is has this ever happen to anyone of VR.COM ?

 

[Ross]

Luc don't get too excited. The ejection % will change all the time, though I do think someone at one or the other place measured it wrong. I would really like to see the result of the 3rd echo myself.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Yes, it sounds like yet another echo should be requested (best 2 out of 3?). Remember, this is a snapshot of a dynamic situation - much as your blood pressure or pulse are different from one minute to the next, you are very unlikely to get the same EF from one test to another. That said, 42% vs 60% is a pretty wide delta and I'd also want to see another one, just to figure out which one to throw out.

Another thing, they can't measure the EF directly, they must extrapolate it from other measurments such as ventricle size, stroke, etc.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Luc,

I went through the same issues. Echo stated and EF of 40%. Well, to say the least I was in a tail spin. They did another test called a MUGA scan and this test suggested my EF was at least 60%. Returned to the cardiologist. He said echos are not the best way to confirm EF's. It also depends on the tech, etc. Results from an echo can vary greatly from one to another. Even if they ran them on the same day. Not an exact science. I have had leaking in other valves on one echo and repeated it to be non-existent. Come on.

I feel they are a good indicator, but should not be used to make a definitive diagnosis. Human error plays a BIG role! And they wonder why we have anixety

 

[Luc]

Thank you Moderator and Talented Johnny for putting some light on the matter. Obviously I am still at the beginning of my learning curve . Gina at the end with tests were truth the MUGA or the ECHO ? And if you were at 60% how long did your EF remain that ? I know that each case will be unique and that there are more determining factors but for now I am just try to make so sense of it all. Thank in advance for your reply.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Luc, they took the MUGA results. I was told with the echo..... it's all in the measurments, i.e. how the tech performs the test. This particular tech had never seen anyone with a "Medtronic Hall" mitral valve. Duh, LOL.

Does not seem to be the norm.....but it works for me. If my EF was 40% I would be feeling it. Not the case. Have had some unrleated medical concerns that knocked me back for a bit. Almost back to my old self. Just to tell you how convinced my cardio is....if the valve looks well this fall..... I will be on the "2 year" check up plan. Moving up to 5 years here.


All the best to you.

 

[LeoLillac]

echo results

echo results

HI everyone , about 2 years i was told i needed a heart transplant based on inaccurate echo numbers .
I"t still makes me angry that people can make such mistakes .
My wondefull cardialogist suggested an MRI of the
heart and the results showed my heart in much better condition
and was given a valve instead .
I am curreently very wary of echo results and go by my symptoms which are none .

Hope everyone is well.
Dara ( tricuspid valve
Feb9th2001 )
Dr Fuster ( My Angel )
Dr Poon ( karate man
Dr Griepp ( surgeon )
MAG ( awesome NP)

 

[ALCapshaw2]

An internist friend told me that Echo results are highly operator and instrument dependent. A 'strange' result should be rechecked.

Before undergoing any drastic measures such as surgery, a more precise reading should be taken such as a Heart Catheterization or TransEsophageal Echo (TEE).

'AL'