This section includes definitions for cardiovascular conditions as well as explanations of treatments and procedures used in treating cardiovascular disease.
AAA - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:
Surgical removal of a weakened area of the aorta (major artery) and insdrting a synthetic graft to re-establish the normal function of the aorta.
Arrhythmia:
An abnormal heart rhythm.
Atherosclerosis:
A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-sized and large arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include high levels of "bad" cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, diabetes and a genetic family history of atherosclerotic disease. Atherosclerosis is responsible for much coronary artery disease (angina and heart attacks) and many strokes.
Atrial Fibrillation:
Abnormal irregular heart rhythm with chaotic generation of electrical signals in the atria of the heart – familiarly called atrial fib.
A-V Fistula Graft:
Surgical procedure creating a connection between the patients' own artery and vein providing the means for long-term kidney dialysis.
CABG - Coronary Artery Bypass Graft:
Surgical procedure using a vein and/or artery to bypass an obstruction or blockage of a coronary artery.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery:
Of those people who have heart disease, approximately 10% will undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Those with severe narrowing or blockages, especially involving multiple arteries, may be considered for bypass surgery. This is an operation performed by a surgeon and done under general anesthesia. The surgeon takes a healthy vessel from the leg, chest or arm and creates a bypass around the blockage, restoring blood flow to the heart muscle. Typically 1 to 5 bypasses can be done depending upon how many coronary arteries are blocked. A CABG procedure usually requires approximately 5 day stay in the hospital and up to 3 months to fully recover from the surgery.
Cardiac Catherization:
This test can show physicians if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. This is done by placing a small catheter into an artery, usually in the groin, and is fed to the arteries of the heart. A liquid dye is then injected to visualize the coronary arteries, thereby revealing areas of blockages (also known as angiography). Additionally, if a blockage is discovered, the area can be treated while the catheter is in place in a procedure called angioplasty.
Cardiac Nuclear Scan:
This test helps to identify blood flow problems with the heart. By injecting radioactive material through an IV site, they will be able to identify areas of the heart that are not perfusing properly.
Cardiomyopathy:
Disease of the heart muscle (the myocardium). The World Health Organization (WHO) restricts term "cardiomyopathy" to: "Primary disease process of heart muscle in absence of a known underlying etiology" referring to idiopathic cardiomyopathy (cardiomyopathy of unknown origin).
Carotid Endarectomy:
Surgical removal of plaque from the carotid artery to increase blood flow to the brain and prevent strokes.
Congenital Heart Disease:
A malformation of the heart or the large blood vessels near the heart.
Congestive Heart Failure:
Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency. When this occurs, the heart is unable to provide adequate blood flow to other organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys.
CVA:
The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. A CVA is also referred to as a stroke.
Echocardiogram:
This test can help identify whether an area of your heart has been damaged by a heart attack. Using sound wave technology, it can provide images of your heart and can detect poor heart wall motion, an indicator of heart damage.
Femoral/ Popiteal Bypass:
Restoration of blood flow to the leg using a vein or synthetic graft.
ICD Implantation - Intracardiac Defibrillator Implantation:
Surgical procedure to implant a device to detect and correct life threatening heart rhythms by delivering a shock directly to the heart.
MAZE:
Surgical procedure used to disrupt the abnormal electrical pathways in the atria of the heart.
Mitral Valve Prolapse:
Drooping down or abnormal bulging of the mitral valve's cusps backward into the atrium during the contraction of the heart.
Pacemaker Implant:
Surgical procedure to implant a device to treat severe slow heart rates by an electrical impulse directly to the heart.
Percutaneous Cardiac Intervention (PCI):
This test, which is similar to the cardiac catheterization, can actually treat the blockage by either using balloon angioplasty and/or by placing a stent. Balloon angioplasty is a catheter with a balloon tip that is fed through the arteries to the blockage.
TMR - Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization:
Surgical use of laser energy to create new paths on the heart to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to other areas of the heart.
Valve Replacement:
Surgical removal of a valve and replacement of that valve with a mechanical or biological one.
Valve Repair:
Surgical repair to save ones own heart valve under specific situations.
Valvoplasty:
Assortment of surgical techniques to repair the various structures of a heart valve.
AAA - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:
Surgical removal of a weakened area of the aorta (major artery) and insdrting a synthetic graft to re-establish the normal function of the aorta.
Arrhythmia:
An abnormal heart rhythm.
Atherosclerosis:
A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-sized and large arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include high levels of "bad" cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, diabetes and a genetic family history of atherosclerotic disease. Atherosclerosis is responsible for much coronary artery disease (angina and heart attacks) and many strokes.
Atrial Fibrillation:
Abnormal irregular heart rhythm with chaotic generation of electrical signals in the atria of the heart – familiarly called atrial fib.
A-V Fistula Graft:
Surgical procedure creating a connection between the patients' own artery and vein providing the means for long-term kidney dialysis.
CABG - Coronary Artery Bypass Graft:
Surgical procedure using a vein and/or artery to bypass an obstruction or blockage of a coronary artery.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery:
Of those people who have heart disease, approximately 10% will undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Those with severe narrowing or blockages, especially involving multiple arteries, may be considered for bypass surgery. This is an operation performed by a surgeon and done under general anesthesia. The surgeon takes a healthy vessel from the leg, chest or arm and creates a bypass around the blockage, restoring blood flow to the heart muscle. Typically 1 to 5 bypasses can be done depending upon how many coronary arteries are blocked. A CABG procedure usually requires approximately 5 day stay in the hospital and up to 3 months to fully recover from the surgery.
Cardiac Catherization:
This test can show physicians if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. This is done by placing a small catheter into an artery, usually in the groin, and is fed to the arteries of the heart. A liquid dye is then injected to visualize the coronary arteries, thereby revealing areas of blockages (also known as angiography). Additionally, if a blockage is discovered, the area can be treated while the catheter is in place in a procedure called angioplasty.
Cardiac Nuclear Scan:
This test helps to identify blood flow problems with the heart. By injecting radioactive material through an IV site, they will be able to identify areas of the heart that are not perfusing properly.
Cardiomyopathy:
Disease of the heart muscle (the myocardium). The World Health Organization (WHO) restricts term "cardiomyopathy" to: "Primary disease process of heart muscle in absence of a known underlying etiology" referring to idiopathic cardiomyopathy (cardiomyopathy of unknown origin).
Carotid Endarectomy:
Surgical removal of plaque from the carotid artery to increase blood flow to the brain and prevent strokes.
Congenital Heart Disease:
A malformation of the heart or the large blood vessels near the heart.
Congestive Heart Failure:
Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency. When this occurs, the heart is unable to provide adequate blood flow to other organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys.
CVA:
The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. A CVA is also referred to as a stroke.
Echocardiogram:
This test can help identify whether an area of your heart has been damaged by a heart attack. Using sound wave technology, it can provide images of your heart and can detect poor heart wall motion, an indicator of heart damage.
Femoral/ Popiteal Bypass:
Restoration of blood flow to the leg using a vein or synthetic graft.
ICD Implantation - Intracardiac Defibrillator Implantation:
Surgical procedure to implant a device to detect and correct life threatening heart rhythms by delivering a shock directly to the heart.
MAZE:
Surgical procedure used to disrupt the abnormal electrical pathways in the atria of the heart.
Mitral Valve Prolapse:
Drooping down or abnormal bulging of the mitral valve's cusps backward into the atrium during the contraction of the heart.
Pacemaker Implant:
Surgical procedure to implant a device to treat severe slow heart rates by an electrical impulse directly to the heart.
Percutaneous Cardiac Intervention (PCI):
This test, which is similar to the cardiac catheterization, can actually treat the blockage by either using balloon angioplasty and/or by placing a stent. Balloon angioplasty is a catheter with a balloon tip that is fed through the arteries to the blockage.
TMR - Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization:
Surgical use of laser energy to create new paths on the heart to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to other areas of the heart.
Valve Replacement:
Surgical removal of a valve and replacement of that valve with a mechanical or biological one.
Valve Repair:
Surgical repair to save ones own heart valve under specific situations.
Valvoplasty:
Assortment of surgical techniques to repair the various structures of a heart valve.
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