Post heart attack, LVEF of 32%

[swarkr]

My dad suffered a major heart attack in the last week of Aug 2008. He underwent angioplasty and was in hospital for almost 12 days. As per the doctor, it was a massive heart attack and there were two blockages of 99% and 95% recpectively in LAD.[ It was silent heart attack and the procedure was done after 8 hours the attack started. Unfotunately, we had no clue that dad was suffering a heart attack :( ]During angioplasty, which lasted for almost 2 hrs and 30 min there was a dissection, as there were two bends in the artery and i believe calcification because of the delay in procedure, which seems to have healed by now (as per a CT scan done one month after heart attack). My dad seems to be perfectly healthy with no symptoms whatsoever. However, we got an ECHO done 10 days ago and it showed an LVEF of 32% and EFof 35%. I am worried. Is this serious? My dad looks perfectly fit, walks for 2 hours everyday and has no chestpain, breathlessness etc.

[kenkeith]

There an estimated 26% of the heart disorder population that have an LVEF below 29% (heart failure range) and are not aware of a heart problem as they function normally without symptoms.  My first symptom was congested heart failure with an EF 13 to 29%.

The left ventricles pumping ability (measured by ejection fraction, EF, and is the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat) can be effected by heart muscle damage, an enlarged left ventricle chamber, heart wall and/or septum thickness (reduces filling capacity).

An echocardiogram provides LV size, heart wall and septum (wall separating chambers) valve integrety, etc.  A heart attack could have damaged heart muscle and impair contractions.  An overworked heart can cause hypertrophy (enlargement), etc.  An echo should provide the underlying cause for the low EF.

Currently, and since heart attack 5 years ago,  my EF is normal and wall dimensions are normal size.  It is possible your father can increase his EF depending on the cause.  An individual can have a serious heart condition and be asymptomatic.  Walking for 2 hours and no symptoms is a good sign, but you should get the echo report and look for heart dimensions and if any hypokinesis (muscle impairment) noted.