LVEF
Also written as: LVEF — left ventricular ejection fraction
Left ventricular ejection fraction, a measurement of the heart's pumping efficiency used in device selection criteria.
Full Definition
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a crucial cardiac parameter representing the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat. In cardiac device therapy, LVEF serves as a primary criterion for determining candidacy for ICDs and CRT devices. Current guidelines typically require LVEF ≤35% for primary prevention ICD implantation and LVEF ≤35% with QRS ≥120ms for CRT consideration. LVEF is commonly measured using echocardiography, nuclear imaging, or cardiac MRI. Accurate LVEF assessment is essential for appropriate device selection and guideline-directed medical therapy optimization.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize as 'LVEF'; express as percentage (e.g., '35%') rather than decimal fraction.
In Context
- "The patient's LVEF of 25% met criteria for primary prevention ICD implantation." — Cardiology consultation note
- "Follow-up echocardiogram showed LVEF improvement to 45% after CRT optimization." — Device clinic assessment