what is

My husband recently got a ekg.  Can you tell me what ejection fraction of 69% means? Is this good or bad?

Also his aortic valve is sclerotic  with three cusps.  Is this bad or good?  One more thing is he has moderate degree of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy.      
                                                           Thank- You
                                                            Melody

[kenkeith]

Ejection fraction of 69% is within the normal range (55 to75%).  EF is the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat.  There has to be some confusion or an omission of information as an EKG does not calculate EF.  It is the echocardiogram, etc. that measures volume of blood within the left ventricle at peak filling time...subtracts volume of LV after contraction (that would be the amount of blood pumped out with each heart beat)...divide peak filling volume into that result to get a percentage.

An aortic valve normally has 3 cusps (leaflets) so that is identified as normal.  Sclerotic can be some calcification of the valve opening.  If the sclerosis is medium to severe, it can/will constrict the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat, also it will increase the gradient pressure and the left ventricle can enlarge (hypertrophy) compromising effective contractility.  The LVH condition can be the result of sclerorsis but contractility (EF) remains normal.


A bicuspid aortic valve is a defect of the aortic valve, which normally has three leaflets or cusp, instead only has two. Normally only the mitral valve has two cusps (instead of three); situated between the left atrium and left ventricle. Valves ensure the unidirectional flow of blood from the atrium to the ventricles, or the ventricles to the major arteries and veins.