Cardiomyopathy is a condition that is caused due to inadequate heart pumping. In case of dilatative cardiomyopathy, the heart is enlarged and thus weakened and cannot pump the blood properly. The goal of the treatment in this case is improvement of heart\\\'s function and reduction of the symptoms. This is done to extend the life spam of a patient. Medications, surgery and changing of lifestyle may improve the condition. All od these are only temporarly solutions and the heart transplantation can be the only definitive cure.
Surgery
The surgical procedures include a pacemaker insertion, cardioverter- defibrillator (ICD) implantation, ventricular assist devices insertion, mitral valve reparation or replacement and finally heart transplantation. The pacemaker helps the heart to pump blood much easier. After the pacemaker insertion the patient can be more active and stay out of hospital for longer periods of time. Cadrioverter- defibrillator is a tiny device which is inserted in the chest. It supervises the heart and prevents from life-threatening arrhythmias. Occasionally the cardioverter-defibrillator can be combined together with a pacemaker. This combination saves from sudden death. Ventricular assist devices are mechanical gadgets which help the heart in pumping more blood. They are implanted in patients who are on the waiting list for the heart transplants. A heart transplant is a definite and the only permanent solution to a cardiomyopathy. Unfortunately this operation is available to small number of patients and only those who can satisfy the specific requirements are to be operated. Mitral valve repair or replacement is done if there are any problems with mitral valve present. These include basically the mitral regurgitation which is a result of the enlarged heart.
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