Etymed
congestive cardiomyopathy
Definition
A cardiac condition characterized by the accumulation of blood in the heart muscle, leading to impaired heart function and potential heart failure
Clinical context
A 65-year-old male presents to the emergency department with progressive dyspnea and bilateral lower extremity edema over the past week. He has a history of poorly controlled hypertension and reports skipping his medications recently. On examination, he has jugular venous distension, crackles in the lungs, and hepatomegaly. Echocardiogram reveals global systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30%.
Mnemonic
CONGESTIVE - C - Congestion in heart muscle, O - Old age/overuse, N - No pumping ability, G - Global dysfunction, E - Edema, S - Stressed heart, T - Tachycardia, I - Impaired function, V - Venous congestion, E - Ejection fraction < 40%