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Left Ventricular Function Assessment
At Strong Memorial Hospital, 96% of heart failure patients received left ventricular function assessment from January 2006 to June 2006.
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%.