LVEF 29%, 31 percent heart damage

[harpreetgiani]

My father had a bad case of acidity and constipation which caused him a lot of discomfort. His regular doctor did an ecg as well and said there was a variation in it.

Papa was taken to a heart hospital where a thallium test was done. The test revealed that the heart was enlarged, had 31% damage out of which 5% was reversible (ischemic). His LVEF was determined as 29%. The dox said he had had a silent heart attack at some time.

The doctors recommended that he be treated with drugs instead of surgery.

He has been overweight, hypertensive and a high blood pressure patient for over over 20%, is a moderate drinker non-execiser, and non-smoker. He has since left alcohal and gone on a strict low-fat, low-salt diet. He is taking Ace-inhibiters and Beta-Blockers as well as nitrocontin, Losar, Atorva and Deplatt.

My questions are that
1. Is he in any imminent danger?
2. Will the drugs restore the size of the heart and repair the 5% ischemic damage?
3. Is the drug therepy enough?
4. Is stem cell therepy a credible alternative
5. With regular medication, moderate exercise and controlled diet, what is the average life expectancy?
6. Is 29% LVEF critical?
7. Any other thing he can do?

Thanx.

Harpreet Giani
***@****

[pattani]

A related discussion, first aid treatment for low diastoli bp  for a patinet with low lvef was started.

[JUDYPP02]

A related discussion, heart problem was started.

[Dolla36]

A related discussion, breathlessness after medication was started.

[harpreetgiani]

My father is taking the following medications

Morning...
Losar 25Mg
Nitrocontin 2.6Mg
Tenormin 12.5mg

Evening
Losar - H
Deplatt - A
Attorva

He was earlier advised 25Mg of Tenormin, but that lowered his blood pressure to 85/55 and pulse to 55. Halving this to 12.5mg has brought his blood pressure to 115/75 and pulse to 60

[Cleveland Clinic]

harry,

thanks for the post.

1. Is he in any imminent danger?

Probably not imminent, but I would need to know the full history to assess his overall risk. Things I would be concerned about would be whether there is any sleeping or hibernating muscle which didnt show up on the thallium and might be better assessed with a dobutamine echo or PET scan and whether he has undelying heart blockages which could put him at arrythmic risk.  

2. Will the drugs restore the size of the heart and repair the 5% ischemic damage?

They will probably help.  He most likely will not fully reverse, but again I would need to know the whole history.

3. Is the drug therepy enough?

See above.

4. Is stem cell therepy a credible alternative

No. Its only experimental and there is no proven benefit at this time.

5. With regular medication, moderate exercise and controlled diet, what is the average life expectancy?

See #2.

6. Is 29% LVEF critical?

Some people live normal lives with a low EF.  The most important risk in his long term prognosis is whether his heart failure causes symtoms and how bad his symptoms are.

7. Any other thing he can do?

See #1.  In addition, watch his diet, and control his other risk through cardiovascular fitness and tobacco abstinence.


good luck