Medical Abbreviations and Definitions

Flashcards of medical abbreviations and their definitions for exam preparation.

TEVAR

Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair.

TGA

Transposition of the great arteries.

tPA

Tissue-type plasminogen activator; a drug used to prevent thrombosis.

UA

Unstable angina; chest pain at rest or of increasing frequency.

VF

Ventricular fibrillation.

VSD

Ventricular septal defect.

VT

Ventricular tachycardia.

WPW

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; abnormal ECG pattern associated with paroxysmal tachycardia.

DES

Drug-eluting stent.

DOAC

Direct oral anticoagulant.

DSA

Digital subtraction angiography.

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis.

ECG/ EKG

Electrocardiography.

ECHO

Echocardiography.

ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

EF

Ejection fraction; measure of the amount of blood that pumps out of the heart with each beat.

EPS

Electrophysiology study; electrode catheters inserted in veins and threaded into the heart to measure electrical conduction.

ETT

Exercise tolerance test.

MIBI

Multiple-gated acquisition scan; a radioactive test of heart function.

EVAR

Endovascular aneurysm repair.

FFR

Fractional flow reserve.

HDL

High-density lipoprotein; high blood levels mean lower incidence of coronary artery disease.

HFPEF

Heart failure preserved ejection fraction.

HFREF

Heart failure reduced ejection fraction.

hsCRP

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; biomarker for inflammation in prediction of heart attack risk.

HTN

Hypertension (high blood pressure).

IABP

Intra-aortic balloon pump; supports patients in cardiogenic shock.

ICA

Invasive coronary angiography.

ICD

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

IVUS

Intravascular ultrasound.

LAA

Left atrial appendage.

LAAC

Left atrial appendage closure.

LAD

Left anterior descending coronary artery.

LBBB

Left bundle branch block.

LDL

Low-density lipoprotein; high levels lead to cholesterol in arteries.

LMWH

Low-molecular-weight heparin.

LV

Left ventricle.

LVAD

Left ventricular assist device.

LVEF

Left ventricular ejection fraction.

LVH

Left ventricular hypertrophy.

MI

Myocardial infarction.

MVP

Mitral valve prolapse.

NSR

Normal sinus rhythm.

NT-proBNP

N-terminal pro-peptide of BNP.

NSTEMI

Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.

PAC

Premature atrial contraction.

PAD

Peripheral arterial disease.

PCI

Percutaneous coronary intervention.

PDA

Patent ductus arteriosus.

PE

Pulmonary embolus.

PVC

Premature ventricular contraction.

RBBB

Right bundle branch block.

SA Node

Sinoatrial node.

SCD

Sudden cardiac death.

SGLT-2 inhibitors

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.

SOB

Shortness of breath.

SPECT

Single photon emission computed tomography; used for myocardial imaging.

STEMI

ST elevation myocardial infarction.

TAVR

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

TEE

Transesophageal echocardiography.

ACE inhibitor

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm.

ACLS

Advanced cardiac life support; CPR plus drugs and defibrillation.

ACS

Acute coronary syndrome.

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate; ADP blockers are used to prevent cardiovascular-related death.

AED

Automatic external defibrillator.

a-fib

Atrial fibrillation.

AICD

Automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

AMI

Acute myocardial infarction.

ARB

Angiotensin receptor blocker.

ARVD

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

AS

Aortic stenosis.

ASD

Atrial septal defect.

AV

Atrioventricular.

AVR

Aortic valve replacement.

BBB

Bundle branch block.

BNP

Brain natriuretic peptide; elevated in congestive heart failure.

BP

Blood pressure.

CABG

Coronary artery bypass grafting.

CAD

Coronary artery disease.

CCTA

Coronary computed tomography angiography.

CCU

Coronary care unit.

Cath

Catheterization.

CHF

Congestive heart failure.

CK

Creatine kinase; enzyme released after injury to heart muscles.

CoA

Coarctation of the aorta.

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

CRT

Cardiac resynchronization therapy; biventricular pacing and defibrillation devices.

cTnI,cTnT

Cardiac troponin-I and cardiac troponin-T; proteins released after myocardial injury.