What does 'depressed' heart mean?

[BeachGirl08]

Mother in Law had a cardiac arrest, stents and 1 month after that, a CABG. Has been 4 months since original incident. Was put back in hospital today after passing out. Details are difficult to get, but what they are saying is that the doctors think the heart is 'depressed.' Wondering if anyone can give me a guess about what this means? Sounds like CHF, possible blocks/arrythmias associated with post MI. I also wondered if it might indicate a need for a pacemaker? Any thoughts would be great. We can't be there tonight d/t snow storm. Sounds like they plan to take her back to cath lab tomorrow (but they are unsure what for??????)

[dianah, ASN]

I googled "depressed heart function post CABG" and while most of the hits dealt with possible post-CABG depression, one did have some information about heart function:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2565533/

It's tough to not be able to be there d/t the snowstorm.

Your questions are best answered by your MIL's Cardiologist, who may have more information for you after tomorrow; could you initiate a call to him in the morning?

Not knowing the particulars of her case, no one here can even speculate a guess at what may be going on.

We are also unable to offer medical advice on this website, per the Terms of Service.

I hope she and you get some answers and direction from her doctors. Keep asking. :)

Thread closed.