Mon25October0757PM 19

A 94-year-old woman sustains a fractured neck of femur following a fall. She is scheduled for urgent surgery.

The clinical history and examination suggests she may have heart failure and an echocardiogram is ordered. The following measurements are available:

End-diastolic volume = 60 ml

End-systolic volume = 40 ml

Which one of the following figures approximates to her calculated ejection fraction?

(Please select 1 option)

53%

33% This is the correct answer

63% Incorrect answer selected

43%

23%

Explanation

The ejection fraction (EF) is commonly measured using echocardiography. This non-invasive technique provides good estimates of end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic volumes (ESV), and stroke volume (SV = EDV - ESV).

EF = SV/EDV × 100.

Normally, EF is >55-70%.

In this example:

End-diastolic volume = 60 ml (normally 70-240 ml)

End-systolic volume = 40 ml (normally 16-140 ml).

So,

SV = 60 - 40 = 20

EF = 20/60 × 100 = 33%.

Answer Statistics

1

2%

2

87%

3

3%

4

4%

5

6%

Times answered: 262