What would you typically observe in an echocardiogram of a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF)?

In a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF), a low ejection fraction is a typical finding on an echocardiogram. The ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement of the percentage of blood leaving the heart each time it contracts. In heart failure, especially in systolic dysfunction, the heart's ability to pump blood effectively is impaired, leading to a reduced ejection fraction. An EF of less than 40% is commonly associated with heart failure and indicates a significant decrease in cardiac output, which can contribute to the symptoms of CHF such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention.

While changes to cardiac valves may also be observed in some patients with CHF, valve degeneration is not a universal finding and can occur independently of CHF. A normal ejection fraction is often associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but this is different from the more prevalent type associated with low ejection fraction (HFrEF). Severe tachycardia can be present in acute settings but is not a definitive echocardiographic finding in CHF. Thus, the presence of a low ejection fraction distinctly highlights the ventricular dysfunction characteristic of CHF.