Heart pathology, procedures, and tests

arrhythmias

Abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias).

bradycardia and heart block (atrioventricular block)

Failure of proper conduction of impulses from the SA node through the AV node to the atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His)

flutter

Rapid but regular contractions, usually of the atria.

fibrillation

Very rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contractions of the heart (350 beats or more per minute).Atrial fibrillation (AF)

AED

Automatic external defibrillators

congenital heart disease

Abnormalities in the heart at birth.

coarctation of the aorta (CoA)

Narrowing (coarctation) of the aorta

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

Passageway (ductus arteriosus) between the aorta and the pulmonary artery remains open (patent) after birth.

septal defects

Small holes in the wall between the atria (atrial septal defects) or the ventricles (ventricular septal defects).

tetralogy of Fallot (fah-LO)

Congenital malformation involving four (tetra-) distinct heart defects

congestive heart failure (CHF).

Heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood

coronary artery disease (CAD)

Disease of the arteries surrounding the heart.

endocarditis.

Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

hypertensive heart disease

High blood pressure affecting the heart.

mitral valve prolapse (MVP)

Improper closure of the mitral valve.

murmur

Extra heart sound, heard between normal beats.

pericarditis

Inflammation of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding the heart.

rheumatic heart disease

Heart disease caused by rheumatic fever.

aneurysm

Local widening (dilation) of an arterial wall.

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Blood clot (thrombus) forms in a large vein, usually in a lower limb.

hypertension (HTN)

High blood pressure.

peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

Blockage of arteries carrying blood to the legs, arms, kidneys, and other organs

Raynaud (ra-NO) disease (Raynaud’s)

Recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in fingers and toes.

varicose veins

Abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the legs.

catheter ablation

Brief delivery of radiofrequency energy to ablate (remove) areas of heart tissue that may be causing arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Arteries and veins are anastomosed to coronary arteries to detour around blockages.

defibrillation

Brief discharges of electricity are applied across the chest to stop dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation).

endarterectomy

Surgical removal of plaque from the inner layer of an artery.

percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI

Balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into a coronary artery to open the artery; stents are put in place

thrombolytic therapy

Drugs to dissolve clots are injected into the bloodstream of patients with coronary thrombosis.

coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Arteries and veins are anastomosed to coronary arteries to detour around blockages.