What is the significance of a patient's ejection fraction?

The ejection fraction is a critical measure used to evaluate the heart's efficiency. Specifically, it quantifies the percentage of blood that is ejected from the ventricles with each contraction. This metric is essential in understanding how well the heart is pumping blood throughout the body.

A normal ejection fraction typically ranges from 55% to 70%, meaning that within each heartbeat, that percentage of the blood volume present in the ventricles is successfully pumped out into the systemic circulation. A reduced ejection fraction can be an indicator of various cardiac conditions, such as heart failure or cardiomyopathy, highlighting the heart's weakened pumping ability. Thus, its significance lies in providing insight into cardiac function and guiding treatment strategies for various heart diseases.