decompensation (redirected from cardiac decompensation)

de·com·pen·sa·tion  (dkm-pn-sshn)

n.

1. Medicine Failure of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation, marked by labored breathing, engorged blood vessels, and edema.

2. Psychology The inability to maintain defense mechanisms in response to stress, resulting in personality disturbance or psychological imbalance.

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de·compen·sate v.

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decompensation [diːˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃən]

n

(Medicine / Pathology) Pathol inability of an organ, esp the heart, to maintain its function due to overload caused by a disease