blood pressure
abbr BP
measure of the systolic over the diastolic pressure
instrument =
sphygmomanometer
ausculation and percussion
abbr A&P
listening to internal sounds in the body, usually with a
stethoscope
or by tapping (percussing)
angiocardiography
injection of a radiopaque substance during cardiac catheterization for the purpose of imaging the heart and related structures
angi/o = vessel
cardiac catheterization
threading a catheter into the heart to collect diagnostic information about structures in the heart, coronary arteries, and great vessels
also used to aid in treatment of CAD, congenital abnormalities, and heart failure
digital subtraction angiography
abbr DSA
digital imaging process wherein contrast images are used to "subtract" the noncontrast image of surrounding structures, leaving only a clear image of blood vessels
echocardiography
abbr ECHO
use of ultrasonic waves directed through the heart to study the structure and motion of the heart
transesophageal echocardiography
images the heart through a transducer introduced into the esophagus
electrocardiography
abbr ECG, EKG
recording of electrical impulses of the heart as wave deflections of a needle on an instrument called an electrocardiograph
record = electrocardiogram
exercise stress test
abbr EST
imaging of the heart during exercise on a treadmill, with the use of radioactive thallium or technetium sestamibi
Holter monitor
portable electrocardiograph that is worn to record the reaction of the heart to daily activities
magnetic resonance imaging
abbr MRI
computerized imaging that uses radiofrequency pulses in a magnetic field to detect areas of myocardial infarction, stenoses, and areas of blood flow
MUGA scan
Multiple-gated acquisition scan
noninvasive method of imaging a beating heart by tagging RBCs with a radioactive substance
a gamma camera captures the outline of the chambers of the heart as the blood passes through them
myocardial perfusion imaging
use of radionuclide to diagnose CAD, valvular or congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathy
per = through
-fusion = process of pouring
phlebography
x-ray imaging of a vein after the introduction of a contrast dye
positron emission tomography
abbr PET
computerized nuclear medicine procedure that uses inhaled or injected radioactive substances to help identify how much a patient will benefit from revascularization procedures
radiography
posteroanterior and lateral chest x-rays may be used to evaluate the size and shape of the heart
Swan-Ganz catheter
long, thin cardiac catheter with a tiny balloon at the tip that is fed into the femoral artery near the groin and extended up to the left ventricle
instrument then is used to determine left ventricular function by measuring pulmonary capillary wedge press
cardiac enzymes test
blood test that measures the amount of cardiac enzymes characteristically released during a mycardial infarction
determines the amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CK or CPK) in the blood
lipid profile
blood test to measure the lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the circulating blood
phlebotomy
opening of a vein to withdraw a blood sample
also called
venipuncture
atherectomy
removal of plaque from the coronary artery (or other arteries) through a catheter with a rotating shaver or laser
laser = laser angioplasty
automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
abbr AICD
device that is implanted in the chest to monitor the heartbeat and correct it if needed (speed it up or slow it down)
cardiac defibrillator
either external or implantable device that provides an electronic shock to the heart to restore a natural rhythm
cardiac pacemaker
small, battery-operated device that helps the heart beat in a regular rhythm; can be either internal (permanent) or external (temporary)
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
abbr CPR
manual external cardiac massage and artificial respiration used to restart the heartbeat and breathing of a patient
commissurotomy
surgical division of a fibrous band or ring connecting corresponding parts of a body structure
commonly performed to separate the thickened, adherent leaves of a stenosed mitral valve
comminsur/o = connection
coronary artery bypass graft
abbr CABG
open-heart surgery in which a piece of a blood vessel from another location is grafted onto one of the coronary arteries to reroute blood around a blockage
extracorporeal circulation
abbr ECC
use of a cardiopulmonary machine to do the work of the heart during open-heart procedures
heart transplantation
removal of a diseased heart and transplantation of a donor heart when cardiac disease can no longer be treated by any other means
left ventricular assist device
abbr LVAD
mechanical pump device that assists a patient's weakened heart by pulling blood from the left ventricle into the pump and then ejecting it out into the aorta
LVADs may be used on those patients awaiting a transplant
minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass
abbr MIDCAB
surgical procedure in which the heart is still beating while a minimal incision is made over the blocked coronary artery and an artery from the chest wall is used as the bypass
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
abbr PTCA
surgical procedure in which a catheter is threaded into the coronary artery affected by atherosclerotic heart disease
balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated and deflated to compress the plaque against the wall of the artery and increase
pericardiocentesis
aspiration of fluid from the pericardium to treat cardiac tamponade
port-access coronary artery bypass
abbr PACAB
procedure in which the heart is stopped and bypass surgery is accomplished through small incisions in the chest
radiofrequency catheter ablation
abbr RFCA
destruction of abnormal cardiac electrical pathways causing arrhythmias
transmyocardial revascularization
abbr TMR
procedure used to relieve severe angina in a patient who cannot tolerate a CABG or PTCA
with a laser, a series of holes is made in the heart tissue in the hope of increasing blood flow by stimulating new blood vessels to grow (angiogenesis)
valvuloplasty
repair of a stenosed heart valve with the use of a balloon-tipped catheter
valvul/o = valve
endovenous laser ablation
abbr EVLT
thermal destruction of veins using laser fibers within a vein
used for treatment of varicose veins
hemorrhoidectomy
excision of hemorrhoids
peripherally inserted central catheter
abbr PICC
means of allowing intravenous access for delivery of chemotherapy, antibiotics, IV fluids, and feeding for a prolonged time
phlebectomy
removal of a vein
sclerotherapy
injection of a chemical solution into varicosities to cause inflammation, resulting in obliteration of the lining of the vein
blood flow is then rerouted through adjoining vessels
microsclerotherapy is a treatment to remove spider veins