Left ventricular ejection fraction, commonly abbreviated LVEF, is one of the most important measurements in echocardiography. It represents the percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle during each contraction compared to the total volume of blood when the ventricle is fully filled. A normal LVEF is typically between 55 and 70 percent. Values below 40 percent generally indicate significant systolic dysfunction, meaning the heart is not pumping efficiently. Sonographers calculate LVEF using methods such as the modified Simpson’s biplane technique, which traces the ventricle’s inner border in two different views to estimate volumes.
Sonography Term