Clinical Procedures & Heart Tests

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to clinical procedures and tests associated with cardiovascular health.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

A catheter-based procedure to open blocked coronary arteries.

Stents

Mesh tubes used to keep blood vessels open.

Telemetry

Continuous monitoring of heart activity.

Thrombolytic therapy

Treatment aimed at dissolving blood clots.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

An enlargement of the aorta at the abdominal level.

Atrial fibrillation (AF, a-fib)

An irregular, often rapid heart rate that can lead to blood clots.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

A medical term for a heart attack.

Atrioventricular (AV, A-V)

Referring to the electrical connection between the atria and ventricles.

Blood pressure (BP)

The pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

A surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

A disease characterized by the narrowing of coronary arteries.

Coronary care unit (CCU)

A specialized hospital unit for monitoring and treating heart patients.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

A condition in which the heart is unable to pump sufficiently.

Cardiovascular (CV)

Relating to the heart and blood vessels.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

A condition where blood clots form in deep veins, usually in the legs.

Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG)

A test that records the electrical activity of the heart.

Hypertension (HTN)

A condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.

Left ventricle (LV)

The chamber of the heart responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Another term for a heart attack, caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

Normal sinus rhythm (NSR)

The normal heartbeat rhythm originating from the sinoatrial node.

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

A type of irregular heartbeat that originates in the ventricles.

Shortness of breath (SOB)

A feeling of not being able to get enough air.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

A rapid heart rhythm originating above the ventricles.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

A fast heart rate that originates from the ventricles.