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Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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3-D Echocardiography — the use of ultrasound waves to investigate the action of the heart, presented in a 3-dimensional image
A
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) — an aneurysm involving the aorta; an AAA occurs in the abdominal aorta, the part of the aorta that is pass the diaphragm and into abdomen
Adam-Stokes disease — recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness caused by impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat
Aneurysm — an area of a localized widening (dilation) of a blood vessel
Angina — chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle
Angiography — a procedure performed to view blood vessels after injecting them with a dye that outlines them on X-ray
Angioplasty — a procedure with a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery
Annuloplasty — a technique used to support a valve in heart valve repair
Anticoagulant — a drug that helps prevent the clotting (coagulation) of blood
Antiarrhythmic drug — a drug used to restore normal heart rhythm and conduction
Aorta — the large vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body
Aortic aneurysm — an aneurysm that occurs in the aorta
Aortic disease — disease of the aorta
Aortic dissection — a tear in the wall of the aorta
Aortic stent — a stent graft placed inside the aorta to bypass an aneurysm
Aortic surgery — surgery on the aorta
Arrhythmia — an abnormal heart rhythm (either too fast or too slow)
Aquapheresis — a filtration system that removes fluid in patients for whom diuretics have stopped working
ASD closure — a surgical technique to close an atrial septal defect (ASD)
Atherectomy — a procedure for opening up an artery by removing the plaque produced by the buildup of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the inner lining of the artery
Atherosclerosis — a buildup of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the inner lining of an artery
Atrial fibrillation — is the most common, abnormal rhythm of the heart in which electrical discharges are irregular and rapid; as a result, the heart beats irregularly and, usually, rapidly
Atrial flutter — organized but overly rapid contractions of the atrium of the heart, usually at a rate of 250-350 contractions per minute (flutter is well organized while fibrillation is not)
Atrial septal defect (ASD) — a congenital heart defect causing a hole in the septum, the wall between the atria the upper chambers of the heart
B
Balloon angioplasty — a procedure with a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery; also called balloon catheterization and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
Beating heart surgery — a method of performing heart surgery without stopping the heart
Beta-blocker — a type of drug used to relieve stress on the heart; they slow the heart beat, lessen the force with which the heart muscle contracts, and reduce blood vessel contraction in the heart, brain, and throughout the body
Bradycardia — a slow heart rate, usually less than 60 beats per minute
C
Cardiac arrest — the sudden stopping of the heart's pumping, possibly due to a heart attack, respiratory arrest, electrical shock, extreme cold, blood loss, drug overdose or a severe allergic reaction
Cardiac mapping — a procedure to locate abnormal areas in the heart’s electrical system; electrode catheters are inserted the heart to track the heart’s electrical signals
Cardiac MRI — the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain images of the heart; MRI uses a magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures internal body structures
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) — the use of a specialized pacemaker to re-coordinate the action of the right and left ventricles in patients with heart failure; also called called biventricular pacing
Cardiac stent — a device used in the coronary artery to keep the vessel open
Cardiac stress test — a screening test used to diagnose the presence and extent of coronary artery disease during exercise Cardiac ultrasound — see echocardiography
Cardiologist — a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treat problems of the heart, arteries and veins
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation — a rehabilitation program designed to improve the health and quality of life of patients with heart, lung and vascular disease
Cardiothoracic surgery — the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the chest — generally the heart and lungs; cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery are often grouped together as cardiothoracic surgery; cardiac surgery refers to surgery of the heart and great vessels, and thoracic surgery refers to surgery of the chest other than the heart; a cardiothoracic surgeon may perform both cardiac and thoracic surgery
Cardiovascular disease — diseases that affect the heart and the blood vessels throughout the body (includes heart disease, coronary artery disease, coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease; also called heart and vascular disease
Carotid artery disease — a blockage or narrowing of the major arteries inside the neck
Carotid artery stent — a device used in the carotid artery to keep the vessel open
Catheterization — the process of inserting a catheter into a vein or artery and guiding it through the heart chambers and surrounding vessels for purposes of examination or treatment
Catheter ablation — a procedure to destroy small, carefully selected parts of the heart that are causing an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) Ablation enables the heart to beat more slowly and normally again
Congenital heart disease — a heart problem present from birth
Coronary artery disease (CAD) — hard cholesterol substances (plaques) deposited within a coronary (heart) artery; plaque in the coronary arteries can cause a tiny clot to form which can obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscle
Coronary bypass surgery — surgery that uses blood vessels to go around or “bypass” clogged coronary (heart) arteries so blood can flow through the new vessels to the heart muscle the way it should
Cryo-balloon angioplasty (cryoplasty) — a type of therapy for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) used to open clogged or narrowed arteries in the legs; the technique is similar to angioplasty used in heart vessels, except stents are not used to keep the blood vessel open
Cutting balloon angioplasty — a procedure that combines balloon angioplasty with microsurgery; during angioplasty, tiny blades mounted on the balloon score plaque on the wall of the vessel, and the balloon compresses the plaque into the vessel wall; this procedure is helpful for treating veins that resist traditional angioplasty
D
Defibrillator — an electronic device used to establish a normal heartbeat
Dobutamine stress echo test — a test that involves taking a medication called dobutamine while being closely monitored; the medication stimulates the heart as if a person is exercising; the test is used to evaluate a person’s heart and valve function when he or she is unable to exercise on a treadmill or stationary cycle
Door-to-balloon time — a time measurement in emergency cardiac care, specifically in the treatment of a heart attack; the interval starts with the patient's arrival in the emergency department, and ends when a catheterization procedure in the cardiac cath lab; American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend a door-to-balloon interval of no more than 90 minutes
Drug stress test — a test that involves taking a medication while being closely monitored; the medication stimulates the heart as if a person is exercising; the test is used to evaluate a person’s heart and valve function when he or she is unable to exercise on a treadmill or stationary cycle
Duplex ultrasound — a procedure that combines Doppler flow and conventional imaging information to allow physicians to see the structure of blood vessels; duplex ultrasound shows how blood is flowing through the vessels and measures the speed of the flow of blood; it can also estimate the diameter of a blood vessel and the amount of obstruction (if any) in a blood vessel
E
Echocardiogram — is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart; the picture is much more detailed than an X-ray image and involves no radiation exposure Edema — the accumulation of fluid throughout the body caused by heart failure
Ejection fraction — the percentage of blood that’s pumped out of a filled ventricle with each heartbeat; this measures the capacity at which the heart is pumping
Electrocardiography — a non-invasive procedure for recording electrical changes in the heart
Electrophysiology (EP) study — a recording of the electrical activity the heart used to help find the cause of a rhythm disturbance and the best treatment
Endarterectomy — the surgical removal of plaque from the inner wall of a diseased artery by surgery
Endovascular stent — a device used in a blood vessel to keep the vessel open
Endovascular therapy — a procedure in which a catheter is passed through an artery to treat an aneurysm; endovascular therapy offers a less invasive alternative to surgery for some patients with difficult-to-reach aneurysms
Exercise stress test — a screening tool to test the effect of exercise on the heart; also called heart stress test or stress test
H
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) — a buildup of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the inner lining of an artery
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) — a complete blockage of blood flow to an area of the heart, causing heart cells to die
Heart disease — a general term that relates to many heart conditions; coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease
Heart failure — a condition in which the heart loses its ability to efficiently pump blood throughout the body
Heart transplant — replacement of a diseased or damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor
Hypothermic circulatory arrest — lowering of the body temperature during open heart surgery to allow the surgeon to most precisely operate on a still, non-beating heart
I
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) — a device implanted in the chest to monitor for and correct episodes of an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) by pacing or shocking the heart
Interventional cardiology — the field whereby traditional surgical procedures are performed using heart catheterization; procedures include opening narrowed areas with balloons and stents, closing unwanted vessels with coils or intravascular devices, and ablating heart tissue to correct rhythm problems
Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) — a type of echocardiography that provides ultrasound images from inside the heart muscle; a tiny ultrasound probe is mounted on the tip of a catheter so it can be moved through the blood vessels directly into the heart
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) — a procedure in which a tiny ultrasound device is placed into the coronary artery to give a cross-sectional view from inside the artery; IVUS can aid in the selection and sizing of stents and balloons, and can show that a stent has been properly placed
L
LightSpeed Volume Computed Tomography (VCT) — a powerful medical CT scanner that is unique in its ability to produce clear, three-dimensional images of blood vessels to detect coronary artery disease; VCT combines rapid X-ray scanning with multiple CT to produce highly detailed images of the heart and vessels
Long Q-T syndrome — a hereditary disorder of the heart’s electrical rhythm that involves repeated fainting and a high risk of cardiac arrest
M
Maze procedure — a procedure performed to treat atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery
(MIDCAB) — a type of bypass surgery that may be used when only one or two artery bypasses are needed; the procedure uses a 2- to 3-inch incision in the chest, without splitting the breast bone
Minimally invasive heart surgery — a variety of heart procedures performed through 3-4 small incisions on the left or right side of the chest; unlike traditional (open heart) surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery does not require cutting through the breast bone, resulting in less trauma to the body, less pain, a shorter hospital stay, a faster recovery, faster return to normal activities, and reduced risk for infection
Mitral valve annuloplasty — surgery to repair the annulus, the fibrous tissue at the base of the mitral valve
Multiple Gates Acquisition (MUGA) — a test that measures how much blood the heart pumps or “ejects” with each contraction (called the ejection fraction) and how quickly that blood is ejected
Myocardial infarction (heart attack) — a complete blockage of blood flow to an area of the heart, causing heart cells to die
Myocardial perfusion imaging — a test that evaluates coronary arteries by determining changes in blood flow to the heart during exercise; also called nuclear medicine stress test
O
Off-pump bypass surgery — surgery done without stopping the heart and without a heart-lung machine; during the surgery, the heart continues to pump blood to the body
Open heart surgery — surgery that involves opening the chest and heart while a heart-lung machine performs for the heart and lungs during the operation
P
Pacemaker — a small device that sends small electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain the heart rate or to stimulate the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles)
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) — a defect in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart; the defect is an incomplete closure of the atrial septum that results in an opening in the atrial septal wall; a PFO is common in everyone before birth, but seals shut in 75 percent to 80 percent of people
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) — see balloon angioplasty
PFO closure — a procedure to correct a PFO Peripheral artery disease (PAD) — a form of PVD that affects the arteries outside the heart; PAD, which mostly affects arteries in the legs, develops when the peripheral arteries become clogged with fatty deposits (plaque), causing them to narrow and reducing the flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) — diseases affecting the veins and arteries, including peripheral artery disease, venous disease and lymphatic disease
R
Radiofrequency ablation — a procedure to treat some types of rapid heart beating; a physician guides a catheter with an electrode at its tip to the area of heart muscle, using X-ray guidance; a mild, painless radiofrequency energy is transmitted to destroy carefully selected heart muscle cells in a very small area
Renal artery angioplasty — a procedure to relieve a blockage in the renal artery, the main blood vessel to the kidney, without surgery; a catheter is inserted through a blockage in an artery, and a balloon on the catheter is inflated to open up the blockage and allow more blood to flow through it
Robotic heart surgery — a type of minimally invasive heart surgery that uses a robotic system that provides improved magnification, precise robotic movements and a three-dimension view of the surgical site; the following heart procedures can be performed robotically:
- Mitral valve repair
- Artery bypass grafting for blocked arteries
- Repair of ASD and PFO (holes in the heart)
- Placement of leads for a pacemaker
- Combined mitral and tricuspid valve surgery
- Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm)
- Removal of tumors in the heart
S
Spider veins — a group of veins that appear on the surface of the skin; the veins may look like short, fine lines, “starburst” clusters or a web-like maze; spider veins are most common in the thighs, ankles and feet, and may also appear on the face
Stent — a tiny wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery Stress test — a screening test used to diagnose the presence and extent of coronary artery disease during exercise
Supine bicycle stress test — a stress test performed while a person pedals a bike lying flat in bed (the bike is attached to the bed)
Supraventricular tachycardia — an arrthymia that involves both the ventricles and the atria
Syncope — a temporary loss of consciousness (fainting) usually related to temporary insufficient blood flow to the braining
T
Tachycardia — a rapid heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute
Tilt table — a test to determine the cause for blood pressure drop and fainting; the patient is placed on a table in a horizontal position, and the table is then tilted upward by degrees to a vertical position; blood pressure, pulse and symptoms are recorded with the patient in each position
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) — an aneurysm in the part of the aorta above the diaphragm
Thoracic endovascular artery repair (TEVAR) — a minimally invasive catheter technique in which a stent graft is placed within an aneurysm through a blood vessel in the leg
Thrombolysis — a catheter-based treatment that removes abnormal blood clots that restrict blood flow; thrombolytic therapy dissolves blood clots using medication given directly into the clot through a catheter, while mechanical thrombolysis breaks up a blood clot using various mechanical devices
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) — a test in which an ultrasound probe is placed close to the heart to provide clearer pictures; a tube with a small ultrasound probe on it is gently placed down a patient’s throat and into the esophagus; TEE can help diagnose abnormalities of the heart, and show the size of the heart, how well it pumps and damage to heart tissue
Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) — a procedure designed to relieve angina when other treatments (angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery) are not options; using a special laser, small channels are created in the heart muscle in the areas responsible for the angina
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) — a test in which an ultrasound transducer, which emits sound waves, is placed on the chest in the area of the heart; a TTE may be done to detect a problem in a heart valve, determine the size and functioning of the ventricles, evaluate the heart after a stroke, check for fluid collection in and around the heart, and look for congenital defects of the heart
Transseptal catheterization — procedures extending or performed through or across the septum, the wall between the right and left sides of the heart
W
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome — an abnormal pathway between the atria and ventricles that causes electrical signals to arrive at the ventricles too soon and to be transmitted back to the atria; rapid heart rates may develop
V
Valve disease (vavular disease) — disease affecting one or more of the four valves of the heart
Valve surgery — surgery to repair or replace a diseased heart valve
Valvuloplasty — a procedure to widen a narrowed heart valve; catheter is advanced through a blood vessel through the aorta and into the heart; the catheter is placed in the valve, and a large balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated until the flaps of the valve open
Varicose veins — veins that form when valves in the vein become weak and don’t close properly, allowing blood to flow backward or reflux; varicose veins are most common in the legs and thighs Vascular disease — disease of the blood vessels (veins and arteries)
Vascular and interventional radiology — the diagnosis and treatment of blocked blood vessels using minimally invasive procedures (without surgery) and imaging guidance Vascular surgery — surgery or procedures related to the blood vessels of the body
Vein disease (venous disease) — any disease of the veins, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), venous stasis disease, phlebitis and varicose veins
Ventricular fibrillation — disordered electrical activity that causes the ventricles to contract in a rapid, unsynchronized manner; sudden death follows unless immediate medical help is provided
Ventricular remodeling — open-heart surgery that involves removing areas of dead heart tissue and reshaping the heart to help it work better with the aim of preventing the progression of heart failure
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) — a fast heart rate that starts in the ventricles
Last Review Date: June 24, 2008 Online Editor(s): Richard Petre |
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