Heart Failure Quality Measures
The left ventricle (LV) of the heart is the chamber that
pumps blood to the rest of the body. Left ventricular function is often, but
not always, impaired 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. There are three main parts of the heart that may be affected. The muscle (myocardium), valves, or covering (pericardium) may be affected, contributing to heart failure symptoms according to the
American College of Cardiology (ACC)
and
American Heart Association (AHA)
Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult.
The left ventricle is the part of the heart that holds and
pumps blood to other vital organs. 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 or greater. Systolic dysfunction (condition that causes reduced pumping
ability of the heart's left lower ventricle) represents reduced pumping ability
of the heart.
At St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center, 87 percent of heart failure patients received left ventricular function assessment in 2006.