Cardiovascular Medications and Procedures

Vocabulary flashcards covering cardiovascular medications and therapeutic and diagnostic procedures based on the lecture notes.

Adenosine

Used for sinus tachycardia / tachydysrhythmias to slow conduction through the AV node.

Amiodarone

Antiarrhythmic medication used for ventricular and atrial arrhythmias.

Aspirin

Antiplatelet agent used to prevent arterial clotting, vasoconstriction, and improve post-MI/PAD outcomes.

Atropine (IV)

Used to treat symptomatic bradycardia.

Bumetanide

Loop diuretic used in heart failure to decrease preload and fluid overload.

Captopril

ACE inhibitor (afterload-reducing agent) used in heart failure.

Carvedilol

Beta-adrenergic blocker used for heart failure and cardiovascular management.

Cilostazol (Pletal)

Medication used to treat symptoms of intermittent claudication in PAD.

Clopidogrel (Plavix)

Antiplatelet agent used to prevent platelet aggregation and arterial occlusion.

Diltiazem

Calcium channel blocker used as an antihypertensive / antidysrhythmic agent.

Digoxin

Inotropic agent used to increase myocardial contractility and improve cardiac output in heart failure.

Dobutamine

Inotropic agent administered via IV to improve cardiac contractility and output.

Dopamine

Inotropic agent used to support blood pressure and cardiac output.

Enalapril

ACE inhibitor used as an afterload-reducing agent in heart failure.

Enoxaparin (Low molecular weight heparin)

Anticoagulant used to prevent clots from forming or enlarging.

Ezetimibe

Lipid-lowering drug therapy used in atherosclerosis.

Ezetimibe with simvastatin

Combination lipid-lowering drug therapy.

Flecainide

Antiarrhythmic medication used for PVCs/arrhythmias.

Furosemide

Loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume and preload in heart failure and pulmonary edema.

Heparin

Anticoagulant used to prevent blood clotting during acute coronary syndromes and procedures.

Hydralazine

Antihypertensive used to maintain target blood pressure (e.g., pre-op for aortic aneurysm).

Hydrochlorothiazide

Thiazide diuretic used to reduce fluid overload.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (Statins)

Medication class used to manage hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Metoprolol

Beta-blocker used to slow heart rate, reduce afterload, and treat myocardial infarction, heart failure, and tachycardia.

Milrinone

Phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor / inotropic agent given via continuous IV infusion to improve contractility and reduce afterload.

Morphine sulfate

Analgesic used to relieve pain, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, and decrease preload in MI and heart failure.

Nifedipine

Calcium channel blocker used as an afterload-reducing agent.

Nitroglycerin

Vasodilator used to prevent coronary artery vasospasm, reduce preload/afterload, and treat angina.

Pentoxifylline (Trental)

Medication used to improve blood flow and treat intermittent claudication in PAD.

PCSK9 inhibitors

Advanced drug therapy used for lowering cholesterol in atherosclerosis.

Reteplase

Thrombolytic agent used to break up blood clots during myocardial infarction.

Spironolactone

Potassium-sparing diuretic used in heart failure management.

Ticlopidine

Antiplatelet agent used post-procedure or for vascular protection.

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Long-term anticoagulant used for mechanical heart valve maintenance (target INR $2.0-3.0$).

Angiography (Coronary / Peripheral)

Invasive imaging procedure using contrast dye and fluoroscopy to visualize artery blockages and blood flow.

Atherectomy

Nonsurgical percutaneous procedure to break up and remove plaque within cardiac or peripheral vessels.

Autogenous/Synthetic Bypass Surgery (Peripheral / Femoral-Popliteal)

Surgical procedure using native vein or synthetic grafts to route blood flow around occluded peripheral arteries.

Cardiac Catheterization

Invasive procedure to evaluate heart function, pressures, and coronary artery blockages.

Cardiothoracic Surgery / CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)

Open-heart surgical procedure using vessel grafts to bypass obstructed coronary arteries.

Catheter Ablation

Procedure performed to destroy abnormally excited cardiac cells or pathways responsible for arrhythmias (like tachycardia, PVCs, or A-fib).

Chest X-Ray

Non-invasive imaging used to evaluate heart size, lung congestion, and complications like tamponade.

Computed Tomography (CT Scan)

Diagnostic imaging used to visualize structures such as aortic aneurysms or chest pathology.

Echocardiogram (Transthoracic / TEE)

Ultrasound imaging of the heart to evaluate valve disorders, wall motion, chamber size, and ejection fraction.

Electrocardiogram (ECG / EKG)

Continuous or $12$-lead electrical recording of heart rhythms and ischemic changes.

Electrocardioversion / Cardioversion

Therapeutic shock delivery synchronized to rhythm to convert unstable/rapid arrhythmias (like A-fib or atrial flutter) back to normal sinus rhythm.

Hemodynamic Monitoring (CVP, PAP, PAWP, Intra-arterial lines)

Invasive catheter monitoring of blood pressures, volume status, and cardiac output.

Holter Monitor

Ambulatory ECG recording device worn over time to capture intermittent cardiac arrhythmias.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Advanced diagnostic imaging for evaluating vascular and cardiac structures.

Pacemaker Placement (Transcutaneous / Temporary / Permanent)

Electrical device placement or external pacing used to manage symptomatic bradycardia or heart blocks.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Nonsurgical catheter intervention (including angioplasty and stenting) to open occluded coronary arteries.

Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty (PTA / PTCA)

Catheter procedure using a balloon to dilate stenosed vessels and compress plaque.

Pericardiocentesis

Emergency therapeutic procedure to drain fluid from the pericardial sac in cardiac tamponade.

Stent Placement (Coronary / Peripheral / Aortic)

Insertion of a mesh-wire tube via catheter to keep narrowed arteries open.

Stress Testing (Exercise / Pharmacological)

Diagnostic evaluation of myocardial response and workload tolerance under physical or chemical stress.

Thallium Scan

Nuclear imaging test used to assess myocardial ischemia or necrosis.

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)

Specialized ultrasound using an esophageal probe for high-resolution imaging of heart valves and chambers.

Ultrasound (Vascular / Abdominal)

Non-invasive sound wave imaging used to check peripheral blood flow, blockages, or aortic aneurysms.

Valve Repair / Replacement (Mechanical or Biologic)

Surgical intervention to replace or correct diseased heart valves.

Vascular Access (Saline lock, Central lines, Arterial lines)

Securing intravenous or arterial lines for fluid administration, blood draws, and monitoring.

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)

Mechanical pump device implanted to support heart function and blood flow in severe heart failure.