[Left ventricular ejection fraction: pathophysiological aspects and intrinsic limitations].

Ejection fraction (EF) is the most widely used instrumental parameter in clinical cardiology for the evaluation of left ventricular systolic function and prognostic stratification of various cardiac diseases, including ischemic heart disease and heart failure. EF has some advantages but also many limitations, which may favor an incorrect use of this parameter. Moreover, the different cardiac imaging techniques available for EF calculation can be an additional source of errors and inaccuracies. This article will review in detail the pathophysiological features and intrinsic limitations of EF, with the aim to clarify how to properly use this parameter.