Intermediate
Technical
IVT
cardiomyopathy
A disease of the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood effectively.
Full Definition
Cardiomyopathy encompasses various disorders of the myocardium that impair cardiac function. The main types include dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged, weakened heart), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle), and restrictive cardiomyopathy (stiff heart muscle). These conditions may be genetic, acquired, or idiopathic, and can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Surgical interventions may include septal myectomy, heart transplantation, or ventricular assist device implantation.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from myocarditis (inflammation) and pericarditis (pericardial inflammation).
In Context
- "The patient's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy required septal myectomy for outflow tract obstruction." — Surgical consultation note
- "End-stage dilated cardiomyopathy necessitated evaluation for heart transplantation." — Patient assessment
Also known as
heart muscle disease
Don't confuse with
myocarditis
pericarditis