Chapter 11: Pathology, Lab Tests Flashcards
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)
palpitations
uncomfortable sensations in the chest from missed heartbeats
palpation
to touch, feel or examine with the hands and fingers
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
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 disease
recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in fingers and toes
varicose veins
abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the legs
BNP test
measurement of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) in blood
cardiac biomarkers
chemicals are measured in the blood as evidence of a heart attack
lipid tests (lipid profile)
measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in a blood sample
lioprotein electrophoresis
lipoproteins (combinations of fat and protein) are physically separated and measured in a blood sample
angiography
x-ray imaging of blood vessels after injection of contrast material
computed tomography angiography (CTA)
three-dimensional x-ray images of the heart and coronary arteries using computed tomography (64-slice CT scanner)
digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
video equipment and a computer produce x-ray images of blood vessels
electron beam computed tomography (EBCT or EBT)
electron beans and CT identify calcium deposits in and around coronary arteries to diagnose early CAD
Doppler ultrasound studies
sound waves measure blood flow within blood vessels
echocardiography (ECHO)
echoes generated by high-frequency sound waves produce images of the heart
position emission tomography (PET) scan
images show blood flow and myocardial function following uptake of radioactive glucose
technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scan
technetium Tc 99m sestamibi injected intravenously is taken up in cardiac tissue, where it is detected by scanning
thallium 201 scan
concentration of radioactive thallium is measured to give information about blood supply to the heart muscle
cardiac MRI
images of the heart are produced using radiowave energy in a magnetic field
cardiac catheterization
thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart via a vein or an artery
electrocardiography (ECG)
recording of electricity flowing though the heart
Holter monitering
an ECG device is worn during a 24-hour period to detect cardiac arrhythmias
stress test
exercise tolerance test (ETT) determines the heart’s response to physical exertion (stress)
catheter ablation
brief delivery of radiofrequency energy to destroy areas of heart tissue that may be causing arrhythmias
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 sop dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation)
endarterectomy
surgical removal of plaque from the inner layer of an artery
extracorporeal circulation
heart-lung machine diverts blood from the heart and lungs while the heart is repaired
heart transplantation
a donor heart is transferred to a recipient
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
transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
placement of a balloon-expandable aortic heart valve into the body via a catheter
