Ejection Fraction

[emerald28]

I have just gotten results from an Echocardiogram and a Radioactive Sestamibi Scan. The ejection fractions are different. Is that normal or should I follow up further?

Echo - EF 60%

Sestamibi Scan - Resting gated ejection fraction 34%

[kenkeith]

Echocardiogram and a Radioactive Sestamibi Scan can be reconciled to make sense. Ejection fraction is the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat.  With the echo the heart rate is slow at rest, there is more time for the heart to contract increasing the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat.  This the usually relied on calculatiion to assess an individual's heart's functionality (normal is 55 to 75%)...you have a normal EF.

Radioactive Sestamibi Scan calculates the amount of blood pumped when the heart is beating faster.  A faster beating heart pumps less blood with each heartbeat and as a consequence the EF percentage is lower.  Hope that helps you.  Take care.

[kenkeith]

An echocardiogram is the EF measurement at rest and the gated sestamibi scan is the post-stress scan and will not represent basal LV function in all patients with stress-induced ischemia. Ischemia-induced LV dysfunction after completion of exercise in patients is limited and inconsistent.
You may want to discuss with your doctor about the discrepancy between the two tests.