NCLEX Review & Nursing School

– Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the myocardial structure in the heart,
and therefore impairing the cardiac function.

There are three main types of cardiomyopathy.

1. DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY- WITH THIS TYPE,  THE VENTRICLES ARE DILATED WITH DESTRUCTION OF MYOCARDIAL FIBERS LIMITING CONTRACTILITY AND CAUSING SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION.
2. HYPERTHROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY- MYOCARDIAL THICKENING OF THE VENTRICULAR WALL AND SEPTUM CAUSING A RIGID VENTRICLE AND DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION.
3. RESTRICTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY- THE VENTRICLES BECOME RIGID WITH FIBROTIC TISSUE, CAUSING SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION.

♠ Dilated Cardiomyopathy

– there is a dilation in both ventricles.

SYMPTOMS:

• Fatigue
• Palpatations
• Dyspnea on exertion

Interventions:

Surgical Management: Heart Transplant.

 

♠ Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (Thickened)

Interventions:

• Inotrpic agents (beta adrenergic agents)
• Calcium Antagonists

 

♦ Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (Stiff)