Please explain compensated heart failure/ dilated cardiomyopathy.

Compensated = stable: Compensated heart failure means that the heart failure symptoms are controlled with medications (stable or not getting worse). It does not mean the heart failure has been cured. Dilated cardiomyopathy refers to ballooning of the left ventricle (main pumping chamber) which can result in heart failure as the function deteriorates. This is measured by the ejection fraction.

Fluid balance: Hello, with heart failure, heart is not able to pump enough blood forward so the rest goes back to lungs, abdomen and legs. Legs get swollen and lungs get filled with fluid. We tell patients to restrict fluid and salt intake and also pee out extra fluid out with medications. This will dry them or compensated stage. Decompensated stage is fluid overloaded stage. This fluid balance defines them.

Complex: One or more chambers of the heart becomes dilated (frequently from uncontrolled blood pressure, mi, or bad valves). The heart gradually becomes insufficient as a pump, usually because one side gets behind in it's work, then pressure rises within the heart, lungs, or peripheral circulation. Medication to improve the pump and/or reduce the volume to be pumped can compensate for the deficiency.