Cardiovascular System Tests, Procedures, and Therapeutic Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering diagnostic tests, imaging, operating room procedures, catheterization laboratory procedures, and therapeutic terms for Chapter 5: Cardiovascular System.

positron-emission tomography (PET) scan of the heart

use of specialized nuclear isotopes and computed tomographic techniques to produce perfusion (blood flow) images and to study the cellular metabolism of the heart; can be performed at rest or with stress

radiology

x-ray imaging

angiography

process of x-ray imaging a blood vessel after injection of contrast medium, most commonly after catheter placement

angiogram

record obtained by angiography

coronary angiogram

x-ray image of the blood vessels of the heart using a catheter to inject contrast

arteriogram

x-ray image of a particular artery (e.g., coronary arteriogram or renal arteriogram)

aortogram

x-ray image of the aorta

venogram

x-ray image of a vein

cardiac catheterization

introduction of a flexible, narrow tube (or catheter) through a vein or artery into the heart to withdraw samples of blood, to measure pressures within the heart chambers or vessels, and to inject contrast media for fluoroscopic radiography and cine film (motion picture) imaging of the chambers of the heart and coronary arteries; often includes interventional procedures, such as angioplasty and atherectomy

left heart catheterization

x-ray imaging of the left ventricular cavity and coronary arteries

right heart catheterization

measurement of oxygen saturation and pressure readings of the right side of the heart

ventriculogram

x-ray image of the ventricles

stroke volume (SV)

measurement of the amount of blood ejected from a ventricle in one contraction

cardiac output (CO)

measurement of the amount of blood ejected per minute from either ventricle of the heart

ejection fraction

measurement of the volume percentage of left ventricular contents ejected with each contraction

computed tomographic angiography (CTA)

specialized, noninvasive, three-dimensional (3-D) computed tomographic scan of the heart and circulation of the "greater" blood vessels, such as the coronary arteries, aorta, and pulmonary veins; performed with or without contrast

sonography

sonographic imaging

echocardiography (echo)

recording of sound waves through the heart to evaluate structure and motion

stress echocardiogram (stress echo)

echocardiogram of the heart recorded during the induction of controlled physical exercise (treadmill or bicycle) or a pharmaceutical agent that produces the effect of exercise stress in patients who are unable to ambulate; useful in detecting conditions such as ischemia or infarction

transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

echocardiogram of the heart after placement of an ultrasonic transducer at the end of an endoscope inside the esophagus

Doppler sonography

ultrasound technique used to evaluate blood flow to determine the presence of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or carotid insufficiency, or to determine flow through the heart, chambers, valves, and so on

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

grafting a portion of a blood vessel retrieved from another part of the body (e.g., a length of saphenous vein from the leg or mammary artery from the chest wall) to bypass an occluded coronary artery, restoring circulation to myocardial tissue; traditional method includes temporary arrest of the heart during circulation (bypass) of the patient's blood through a heart-lung machine; an alternative, off-pump approach uses a stabilizer to perform the procedure on the beating heart; the abbreviation CABG is pronounced "cabbage"

anastomosis

opening; the joining of two blood vessels to allow flow from one to the other

endarterectomy

surgical removal of the lining of an artery to clear a blockage caused by a clot or atherosclerotic plaque buildup

valve replacement

surgery to replace a diseased heart valve with an artificial valve; there are two types of artificial valves: tissue valves, most commonly made from animal tissue (e.g., porcine [pig] or bovine [cow]), and mechanical valves, made from synthetic material

valvuloplasty

surgical repair of a defective heart valve

percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

interventional procedures used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) performed at the time of cardiac catheterization in a specialized laboratory setting (or "cath lab") instead of the traditional operating room

angioscopy (vascular endoscopy)

use of a flexible fiberoptic angioscope (accompanied by an irrigation system, camera, video recorder, and monitor) that is guided through a specific blood vessel to visually assess a lesion and to select the mode of therapy

atherectomy

excision of atheromatous plaque from within an artery utilizing a device housed in a flexible catheter that selectively cuts away or pulverizes tissue buildup

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)

a method for treating the narrowing of a coronary artery by inserting a specialized catheter with a balloon attachment, then inflating the balloon to dilate and open the narrowed portion of the vessel and restore blood flow to the myocardium; most often includes the placement of a stent

intravascular stent placement

implantation of a device used to reinforce the wall of a vessel and assure its patency (openness); most often used to treat a stenosis or a dissection (a split or tear in the wall of a vessel) or to reinforce patency of a vessel after angioplasty

defibrillation

termination of ventricular fibrillation by delivering an electrical stimulus to the heart, most commonly by applying the electrodes of the defibrillator externally to the chest wall, but it can also be performed internally, such as during open heart surgery or via an implanted device

defibrillator

device that delivers the electrical stimulus in defibrillation

cardioversion

restoration of a fast or irregular heart rate to a normal rhythm, either by pharmaceutical means or by delivery of electrical energy

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

an implanted, battery-operated device with rate-sensing leads; the device monitors cardiac impulses and initiates an electrical stimulus as needed to stop ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia

pacemaker

a device used to treat slow heart rates (bradycardia) by electrically stimulating the heart to contract; most often, it is implanted with lead wires and battery circuitry under the skin, but it can also be placed on a temporary basis externally with lead wires inserted into the heart via a vein