Analysis Of The Pathophysiological Framework Of Dilated...

Dilated Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is the deterioration of muscles within the heart which in turn causes the heart to become thick, rigid or enlarged; this physiological change causes decreased contractility and may lead to arrhythmias or heart failure (VanMeter and Hubert, 2013). In the case study, the client is a seven-year-old girl from Chetwynd who is recently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. When she was ten months old, she underwent a heart transplant for her hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a complex and rare heart defect that is congenital, or present at birth, in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. The left ventricle is not functional and therefore the left side†¦show more content†¦The rapid degeneration of myocardial fibers and diffuse inflammation lead to ventricular dilation and hypertrophy which cause atrial enlargement and stasis of blood in the left ventricle (Park, 2008). The enlargement of the remaining heart chambers is mainly due to left ventricular failure, but it may also be secondary to the primary cardiomyopathic process. Dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with both systolic and diastolic dysfunctions, with decreased systolic function being the predominant abnormality (Parker, 2008). This dysfunction leads to decreased contractility and general contractile dysfunction (Parker, 2008). Progressive dilation can lead to significant mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, which may further decrease the cardiac output and increase end-systolic volumes and ventricular wall stress. In turn, this leads to further dilation and myocardial dysfunction (Friedberg, 2008). Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common type of heart muscle disease in pediatrics (Chow, Ateah, Scott, Ricci, Kyle, 2013). Dilated cardiomyopathy can be a life threatening condition and can decrease life expectancy if severe damage occurs. Currently, the five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy is between forty and eighty percent. The survival rate decreases if they child is diagnosed at five years or older (Friedberg, 2008). Diagnosis Diagnosis methods