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ACE Inhibitors
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor
- Reduces high blood pressure and the risk of future heart attacks, even if the patient is not hypertensive.
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ACLS
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- CPR plus drugs and defibrillation.
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ADP
- Adenosine Diphosphate
- The blockers are used to prevent cardi-vascular related death, heart attack, and strokes after all stent procedures.
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AED
- Automatic External Defibrillators
- Found in public places; used in an emergency situation to reverse ventricular fibrillation.
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AF
- Atrial Fibrillation
- The most common type of cardiac arrhythmia.
- Electrical impulses move randomly throughout the atria causing it to quiver instead of contracting in a coordinated rhythm.
- People who have it are at risk for a stroke.
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AICD, ICD
- Automatic Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
- Brief charges of electricity are applied across the chest to stop dysrhythmias.
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AMI
Acute Myocardial Infarction
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BNP
- Brain Natriuretic Peptide
- Elevated in patients with heart failure and useful in CHF diagnosis.
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CABG
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Arteries and veins are anastomosed to coronary arteries to detour around blockages.
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CAD
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Disease of the arteries surrounding the heart.
- Usually the result of atherosclerosis.
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CHF
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood.
- Systolic CHF: left ventricular dysfunction results in low ejection fraction; less blood from the heart.
- Diastolic CHF: Heart contracts normally but is less compliant when relaxed or filled with blood.
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CK
- Creatine Kinase
- Released into the blood stream after injury to the heart or skeletal muscles.
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CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
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CVA
- Cerebrovascular Accident
- Stroke.
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CVP
Central Venous Pressure
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DSA
- Digital Subtraction Angiography
- Video equipment and a computer produce x-ray images of blood vessels.
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DVT
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Blood clot forms in a large vein, usually in a lower limb.
- Could result in Pulmonary Embolism.
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ECG
- Electrocardiography
- Recording of the electricity flowing through the heart.
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ECHO
- Echocardiography
- Echoes generated by high-frequency sound waves produce images of the heart.
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ECMO
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- A technique used in a heart-lung machine that diverts blood from the heart and lungs while the heart is repaired.
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ETT
- Exercise Tolerance Test
- Determines the heart's response to physical exertion.
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HDL
- High-Density Lipoprotein
- High levels protect adults from atherosclerosis; exercise, alcohol, and estrogen can increase it.
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HTN
- Hypertension
- High blood pressure
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LDL
- Low-Density Lipoprotein
- High levels are associated with atherosclerosis.
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LVH
Left Ventrical Hypertrophy
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MVP
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Improper closure of the mitral valve.
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PAC
Premature Atrial Contraction
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PDA
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Passageway between the aorta and the pulmonary artery remains open after birth.
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PET
- Positron Emission Tomography scan
- Images show blood flow and myocardial function following uptake of radioactive glucose.
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PVC
Premature Ventricle Contraction
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TEE
Transesophageal Echocardiography
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TPA
- Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator
- A drug used to prevent thrombosis.
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VFib, VF
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Electrical impulses move randomly throughout throughout the ventricles.
- could result in cardiac death or cardiac arrest.
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VSD
Ventricular Septal Defect
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VTac, TC
Ventrical Tachycardia
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