| A | B |
|---|
| cardiac catheterization | Passage of a catheter into the heart through a vessel to inject a contrast medium for imaging, diagnose abnormalities, obtain samples, or measure pressure. |
| central venous pressure | Pressure in the superior vena cava |
| coronary angiography | Radiographic study of the coronary arteries following introduction of an opaque dye by means of a catheter. |
| Doppler ultrasonography | An imaging method used to study the rate and pattern of blood flow. |
| enzyme studies | Measurement of serum levels of enzymes that are released in increased amounts from damaged heart tissue. These include CPK, LDH, AST, ALT. |
| heart scan | Imaging of the heart following injection of a radioactive isotope The PYP scan using technetium-99m is used to test for myocardial infarction, as the isotope is taken up by damaged tissue. The MUGA scan gives information on heart function. |
| Holter monitor | A portable device that can record up to 24 hours of an individual's EKG readings during normal activity. |
| lipoprotein | A compound of protein with lipid. Lipoproteins are classified according to density as very low density (VLDL), low density (LDL), and high density (HDL). Relatively higher levels of high density lipoproteins have been correlated with health of the cardiovascular system. |
| phonocardiography | Electronic recording of heart sounds. |
| pulmonary wedge pressure | Pressure measured by a catheter in a branch of the pulmonary artery. It is an indirect measure of pressure in the left atrium. |
| stress test | Evaluation of physical fitness by continuous EKG monitoring during exercise. In a thallium stress test, a radioactive isotope of thallium is administered to trace blood flow through the heart. |
| triglycerides | Fats that appear in the blood in combination with protein as lipoproteins. |
| ventriculography | X-ray study of the ventricles of the heart following introduction of an opaque dye by means of a catheter. |
| artificial pacemaker | A device that controls the beating of the heart by emitting a regular electrical discharge, thus substituting for a defective conduction pathway. |
| atherectomy | Removal of atheromatous plaque from the lining of a vessel. May be done by open surgery or through the lumen of the vessel. |
| commissurotomy | Surgical incision of a scarred mitral valve to increase the size of the valve opening. |
| coronary artery bypass graft | Surgical creation of a shunt to bypass a blocked coronary artery. The aorta is connected to a point past the obstruction with another vessel or a piece of another vessel, usually the saphenous vein of the leg or the left internal mammary artery. |
| defibrillation | Termination of atrial or ventricular fibrillation, usually by electric shock delivered directly to the chest wall with two paddles |
| left ventricular assist device | A pump that takes over the function of the left ventricle in delivering blood into the systemic circuit. They are used to assist patients awaiting heart transplants or those who are recovering from heart failure. |
| percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | Dilatation of a sclerotic blood vessel by means of a balloon catheter inserted into the vessel and then inflated to flatten plaque against the artery wall. |
| stent | A small metal device in the shape of a coil or slotted tube that is placed inside an artery to keep the vessel open following balloon angioplasty. |
| angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor | A drug that lowers blood pressure by blocking the formation in the blood of angiotensin II, a substance that normally acts to raise blood pressure |
| antiarrhythmic agent | A drug that regulates the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. |
| beta-adrenergic blocking agent | Drug that decreases the rate and strength of heart contractions |
| calcium channel blocker | Drug that controls the rate and force of heart contraction by regulating calcium entrance into the cells. |
| digitalis | A drug that slows and strengthens heart muscle contractions. |
| diuretic | Drug that eliminates fluid by increasing the output of urine by the kidneys. |
| hypolipidemic agent | Drug that lowers serum cholesterol. |
| lidocaine | A local anesthetic that is used intravenously to treat cardiac arrhythmias. |
| nitroglycerin | A drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris to dilate coronary vessels. |
| streptokinase | An enzyme used to dissolve blood clots |
| tissue plasminogen activator | A drug used to dissolve blood clots. It activates production of a substance (plasmin) in the blood that normally dissolves clots. |
| vasodilator | A drug that widens blood vessels and improves blood flow. |
