Cardiomyopathy & Cardiac Surgery Care

Dilated cardiomyopathy (an enlarged, weakened ventricle with reduced pumping ability) presents similarly to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (abnormally thickened heart muscle) can obstruct outflow and carries a risk of sudden cardiac death, particularly notable in young athletes, making family screening important when a case is identified. Restrictive cardiomyopathy stiffens the ventricle walls, impairing filling — all three types ultimately impair the heart's ability to pump effectively, but through different mechanisms, which affects specific treatment choices.