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| AAA "Triple A" Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - A weakening of the great vessel coming off the heart, causing a bulging of the artery that can eventually rupture if not surgically repaired. |
| AICD (PCD, ICD) - Terms used to define internal defibrillator devices implanted in patients who have life-threatening rhythm disturbances. They will shock a patient's heart back into a normal rhythm. |
| Angina (angina pectoris) - An intense, steady pain or feeling of pressure in the region of the heart caused by decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. |
| Aorta - The largest artery in the body. The aorta carries blood from the left side of the heart out to the body. All of the major arteries branch from the aorta. |
| Arrhythmias - An abnormal heart rhythm. |
| Arterial Line (A-line) - A tubing that goes into an artery to monitor blood pressure and get blood samples. |
| Artery - A blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood to the body. |
| Atherectomy - This procedure is also a treatment for atherosclerosis. A catheter with a cutting mechanism is advanced to an area of blockage, and the plaque is shaved off and removed, thus opening the artery and allowing improved blood flow. |
| Atherosclerosis - Narrowing or blockage of arteries caused by a buildup of fat (cholesterol) within the artery wall. The buildup is sometimes referred to as "plaque". |
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| Balloon Pump or Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) - A mechanical device inserted to assist the heart and allow it to rest. |
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| CABG - Coronary artery bypass grafts. |
| Cardiac - Pertaining to the heart. |
| Cardiac catheterization - A procedure in which catheters are passed into or through the heart. Pressures are measured, and blood samples are taken from within the heart and its major blood vessels. |
| Cardiac Rehab - Rehabilitation program to ease cardiac patients back into a healthy lifestyle. |
| Cardiolite Stress Test - A radionuclide injected before and after a stress test is performed to show if any areas of heart muscle are suffering for lack of blood. |
| Catheter - A hollow, flexible tube used to withdraw or inject fluid into the body. |
| CEA - Carotid endarterectomy. |
| Claudication - A severe pain in the calf muscles that occurs with walking, but subsides with rest. It results from inadequate blood supply to the extremity which may be due to partial or total occlusion of an artery. |
| Coronary angiogram - A procedure in which catheters are passed into the heart and coronary arteries. Radiopaque dye (x-ray dye) is injected so that x-ray pictures of the heart and arteries may be taken. |
| Coronary arteries - Blood vessels that carry blood from the aorta to the heart muscle. There are three major coronary arteries |
| Coronary arteriography - This is the same as a heart catheterization or a coronary angiogram. |
| Coronary artery disease (CAD) - Blockage of coronary arteries. |
| Coronary stent - A tiny metal framework is expanded inside an artery that may not otherwise stay open. The opening is thus supported, and blood flow can continue. |
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| Descending (LAD), the Circumflex (CX), and the Right Coronary Artery (RCA). - |
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| Echocardiography - A non-invasive and painless diagnostic procedure for making a record of cardiac structure and functioning by means of high frequency sound waves reflected back from the heart. |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG) - A method of recording the electrical impulses given off by the heart as it beats. This may be done while resting or exercising. |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) - A graphic record of the brain waves. |
| Event Monitor - A monitoring device a patient intermittently uses to record their heart rhythm when they have symptoms. It can be transmitted via telephone at the patient's convenience for review by an electrophysiologist or cardiologist. |
| Exercise Tolerance (Stress) Test - An electrocardiographic test of heart function before, during, and after a controlled period of increasingly strenuous exercise (as on a treadmill). |
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| Graft - A bypass or replacement vessel. |
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| Heart Biopsy - A sample of heart tissue is removed through a catheter and then examined in the laboratory as a means of checking the health status of the heart muscle. |
| Heart-Lung Bypass Machine - A machine used to circulate the blood while surgery is being performed on the heart. |
| Holter Monitor Recording - A 24 to 72 hour recording of the electrical currents of the heart and heart rate. |
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| I.V. (Intravenous) - A tiny plastic tube in your vein through which fluids and medicines may be given. |
| Invasive procedure - A diagnostic or therapeutic technique that requires entering a body cavity or an interruption of normal body function. |
| Ischemia - Lack of blood supply. |
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| LEA - Lower extremity arteriography. |
| Left ventricle - Main pumping chamber of the heart. |
| LEVD - Lower Extremity Arterial Dopplers |
| Lipid Panel - A blood test to measure a patient's triglycerides and cholesterol, both good and bad. |
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| Myocardial Infarction (MI) - Term used for heart attack. |
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| Noninvasive procedure - Pertaining to a diagnostic or therapeutic technique that does not require the skin to be broken or a cavity or organ of the body to be entered. |
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| Pacemaker - DDD is a dual chamber pacemaker used to pace both the upper (atrium) and lower (ventricle) chambers of the heart. VVI is a single chamber pacemaker used to pace a single chamber of the heart. |
| Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA or balloon angioplasty) - A nonsurgical method of treating coronary artery disease by opening narrowed areas of the coronary arteries by inflating a balloon catheter. A tiny balloon mounted on a catheter is inflated over an area of blockage, flattening the plaque against the wall of the artery and improving blood circulation. |
| Peripheral Vascular Stent - A non-surgical method of treating peripheral vascular disease by opening arteries in the extremities by inflating a balloon, expanding a stent into the artery, thereby improving the circulation to the extremity. |
| Persantine or Dobutamine Test - A medication injected which speeds the heart much the same as an exercise tolerance test would, allowing patients to be stressed without physical activity. |
| Pneumonectomy - Surgical removal of the lung. |
| Pro-time (PT) - A blood test to measure a specific clotting factor. Routinely ordered for patients on Coumadin. |
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| Stress Echocardiogram - A non-invasive and painless diagnostic procedure for making a record of cardiac structure and function by means of high frequency sound waves reflected back from the heart before and after an exercise tolerance test. |
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| Thallium Stress Test - A radionuclide injected after an exercise tolerance test is performed which shows how blood flows to the muscle of the heart. |
| Thoracotomy - Surgical incision of the chest wall. |
| Tilt Table Test - This is a non-invasive, painless test performed on patients with a history of passing out. The patient is laid flat and slowly tilted into an upright position with continuous blood pressure monitoring. The doctor is looking for sudden drops in blood pressure. |
| Transesophageal Echocardiogram - An invasive procedure for making a record of cardiac structure and functioning by means of high frequency sound waves reflected back from the heart. |
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| Vascular - Pertaining to a blood vessel. |
| Vein - A blood vessel that carries used, oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. |
| Ventilator (Respirator or breathing tube) - A mechanical breathing device inserted into a patient's mouth until the patient is awake enough to breathe on his/her own. |
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