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My Heart Was At 40% After My Heart Attack (stent Put In, Had A Pump In The ICU For 2 Days, Told It Was The Widowmaker). I Have Done Cardiac Rehab, Changed My Diet, Taken Meds On Time, And Lighted My Work Schedule , Do I Need A Different Test Or A Second Echo To See If Everything Is Good?
Question: Doctor said my heart was at 40% after my heart attack (stent put in, had a pump in the ICU for 2 days, told it was the widowmaker). I have done cardiac rehab, changed my diet, taken meds on time, and lighted my work schedule. It has been a month and a half since the attack. Doctor took an Echocardiogram and said my heart is at 75%. He said he could not believe what he was seeing. He initially said I would be lucky to get to 50-55%. Does this mean I have small or no damage to the heart? Do I need a different test or a second echo to see if everything is good?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I passed carefully through your concern and would like to explain that you are among the lucky cases who experience a heart attack that get the most beneficial results from the medical treatment.
The fact that your left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has improved from 40% to around 75% reflects two main components in your clinical course:
1) Your decreased LVEF at the time of hospitalization may be in part a reflection of reversible myocardial stunning (decreased cardiac muscle metabolism and contractility) which has resolved after the successful coronary revascularization, leaving only minor irreversible damages.
2) An initial large myocardial injury has been promptly treated with adequate circulatory support and timely coronary revascularization (stent implantation with complete blood flow restoration).
Whichever be the right explanation of your fantastic improvements, the most important part remains the history of a successful medical approach.
Coming to this point, a big gratitude goes for the heart team that has managed to preserve what the God and nature have donated to you!
I would also like to congratulate and encourage you for the willingness and efforts for modifying your life-style, diet and careful therapy.
This will surely lead you to a healthier and long life.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I passed carefully through your concern and would like to explain that you are among the lucky cases who experience a heart attack that get the most beneficial results from the medical treatment.
The fact that your left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has improved from 40% to around 75% reflects two main components in your clinical course:
1) Your decreased LVEF at the time of hospitalization may be in part a reflection of reversible myocardial stunning (decreased cardiac muscle metabolism and contractility) which has resolved after the successful coronary revascularization, leaving only minor irreversible damages.
2) An initial large myocardial injury has been promptly treated with adequate circulatory support and timely coronary revascularization (stent implantation with complete blood flow restoration).
Whichever be the right explanation of your fantastic improvements, the most important part remains the history of a successful medical approach.
Coming to this point, a big gratitude goes for the heart team that has managed to preserve what the God and nature have donated to you!
I would also like to congratulate and encourage you for the willingness and efforts for modifying your life-style, diet and careful therapy.
This will surely lead you to a healthier and long life.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further questions, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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