Which condition is characterized by impaired cardiac pumping?

The condition characterized by impaired cardiac pumping is congestive heart failure. This condition occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to insufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. In congestive heart failure, the heart's pumping ability is compromised due to various reasons such as myocardial damage, increased workload on the heart, or other pathological changes that affect its function. This inadequate pumping capability results in a backup of blood, causing fluid accumulation in the lungs and other tissues, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema.

In contrast, while conditions like pulmonary embolism, coronary artery disease, and aortic stenosis can impact the heart's performance and blood flow, they do not solely define the impaired pumping action of the heart as congestive heart failure does. Pulmonary embolism may lead to acute right heart strain but is primarily a blockage in the pulmonary artery. Coronary artery disease involves narrowing of the coronary arteries and could lead to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle but is not directly a pumping issue. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve that obstructs blood flow from the heart but doesn't encompass the broader concept of overall pumping inefficiency seen in congestive heart failure.