Cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart can’t pump blood. In some cases, heart rhythm may not be regular (arrhythmias). There may be many causes of cardiomyopathy, including viral infections. Sometimes, the exact cause of the muscle disease is never found.

Cardiomyopathy differs from many of the other disorders of the heart in several ways, including:

• It often occurs in the young
• Leading cause for heart transplant
• Tends to get worse quickly
• May be tied to diseases in other organs

Specific treatment for cardiomyopathy will be determined by your child's physician based on:

• Your child's age, overall health and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference

Treatments for dilated cardiomyopathy may include:

Medication 
Your child's physician may recommend medications to accomplish the following:

• Help the heart beat more effectively
• Decrease the workload of the heart
• Decrease the oxygen needs of the heart
• Prevent clots from forming
• Reduce swelling of the heart
• Regulate heartbeats

Surgical Treatment

• Removal of part of the enlarged muscle
• Artificial pacemaker
• Heart transplant

Heart Transplant 
In some cases, the condition gets worse and a heart transplant may be needed. 

Electrophysiology Program: Our Electrophysiology Program offers specialized care for children who may have heart rhythm problems. Our staff includes interventional pediatric electrophysiologists and pediatric cardiologists specially trained to correct heart rhythm problems.

Outstanding outcomes: If your child needs surgery, you’ll have access to world-class heart surgeons. The Herma Heart Institute has some of the best results for even the most complex types of heart disease.

Care close to home: The Herma Heart Institute has 10 clinic locations. These clinics can be found in Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

Lifelong support: We provide care to our patients in all ages and stages of life — from before birth through adulthood. Your fetal heart doctor can care for your child through their childhood. As they age, they can transition into our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.

Commitment to innovation: Our team is leading the way in congenital heart disease research. We are working to discover breakthrough treatments and procedures to improve outcomes.

Support beyond the clinic: We know that our heart families need support that extends beyond the clinic. That’s why we invest in programs that help children thrive and get them back to being kids sooner:

• Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Program
• Educational Achievement Partnership Program