Angiography - A diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed through the arteries of the heart. Pressures are measured and blood samples are taken from within the heart and its major blood vessels.

Antitachycardia pacing - A method of treating ventricular tachycardia (too-fast heartbeat) by stimulating the heart with a preset rapid series of small electrical pulses.

Aorta - The largest artery in the body, which carries blood from the left side of the heart to every part of the body.

Apex - the pointed part of the heart's left lower chamber (ventricle).

Array - A lead consisting of three electronically common elements joined at a yoke. The SQ array is used as part of an AICD system.

Arrest - The stopping of a function. Cardiac arrest is the stopping of the heartbeat and the heart's function.

Arrhythmia - An abnormal rhythm of the heart beat. Types of arrhythmias include tachycardias (accelerated heartbeats) and bradycardias (slow heartbeats).

Artery - A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

Asynchrony - A condition in which the heart fails to maintain a normal time sequence between atrial and ventricular contractions.

Atherectomy - A minimally invasive CAD intervention procedure which involves the excision and removal of blockages by catheters with miniature cutting systems. not found in EuroDicautom

Atherosclerosis - Narrowing or blockage of arteries caused by a buildup of fat (cholesterol) within the artery wall. The build-up is sometimes referred to as "plaque."

Atria - The upper chambers of the heart, specifically the right atrium and left atrium. The 2 atria collect blood as it comes into the heart and fill the ventricles (lower chambers) with blood.

Atrio-ventricular (AV) node - A cluster of muscle cells located in the wall between the right and left atrium, just above the ventricles. This part of the heart's electrical pathway helps carry signals from the atria to the ventricles.

Atrio-ventricular synchrony; AV synchrony - The normal physiologic sequencing of atrial contraction followed, after a fraction of a second, by a ventricular contraction.

Atrium - One of two upper chambers of the heart (plural: atria). The atria collect blood as it comes into the heart and fill the lower chambers (ventricles) with blood.

Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) - A surgically implanted device that monitors the heartbeat and delivers electrical impulses to correct an abnormal rhythm and restore a regular heartbeat. The AICD system usually consists of an implanted pulse generator and one or more leads. The system is adjusted using an external programming device.

Brady pacing - A method of treating a slow or irregular heartbeat by periodically stimulating the heart with small electrical pulses.

Bradycardia - A slow heartbeat, typically less than 60 beats per minute. It may be caused by the sinoatrial node not working properly, or by a condition called heart block.

Cardiac arrest - The heart stops completely, so that no blood is being pumped out to the body.

Cardiac arrhythmia - An abnormal heartbeat. Types of arrhythmias include tachycardias (accelerated heartbeats) and bradycardias (slow heartbeats).

Cardiac catheterization (Angiography) - A diagnostic procedure in which catheters are passed through the arteries of the heart. Pressures are measured and blood samples are taken from within the heart and its major blood vessels.

Cardiac rhythm management (CRM) - The field of cardiovascular disease which relates to the detection and treatment of abnormally fast tachycardia (Tachy) and abnormally slow bradycardia (Brady) heart rhythms.

Cardioversion - The stopping of a fast heart rate by an electrical impulse that is delivered at the same time as the heartbeat. It uses low to moderate energy to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

Catheter - A hollow, flexible tube used to withdraw or inject fluid into the body.

Catheterization - A test in which a catheter is inserted through the veins or arteries and into the heart to measure pressure, take blood samples and test for abnormalities in the heart. See Cardiac catheterization.

Contraction - The rhythmic squeezing of the heart muscle that causes blood to be pumped out of the heart chambers and into the body. This contraction produces a heartbeat.

Coronary angiogram - A procedure in which catheters are passed into the heart and coronary arteries. Radiopaque dye (x-ray dye) is injected so that x-ray pictures of the heart and arteries may be taken.

Coronary arteries - The blood vessels that carry blood from the aorta to the heart muscle. The three major coronary arteries are: the right coronary artery (RCA), the left anterior descending (LAD) and the circumflex (CX).

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) - An operation performed to circumvent blocked coronary arteries and deliver blood to areas of the heart receiving insufficient blood flow.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) - The formation of blockages or atherosclerotic lesions within coronary arteries which result in restricted blood flow.

Defibrillation - Stopping a too-fast heart rate by delivering a high-energy electrical shock to restore the heart's normal rhythm. Electrical current is used to restore the heart's natural pacemaker function which resumes a normal heartbeat. The shock is administered through electrodes placed on the chest wall (external defibrillation) or in the heart (internal defibrillation).

Defibrillator - An internal or external device that can deliver an electric shock to stop extremely rapid and irregular heartbeats and return the heart to normal rhythm.

Dilatation (dilation) - Gradual opening of the narrowed coronary artery by cracking and compressing the narrowing or obstructing plaque.

Dual-chamber pacemaker - A pacemaker that monitors and paces a chamber of the upper heart and a chamber of the lower heart at the same time. A dual-chamber pacemaker usually has two leads - one located in the right atrium and the other located in the right ventricle.

Dual-chamber pacing - To pace and/or sense heart rhythm in both the atrium and the ventricle.

Ejection fraction (left ventricular: LVEF) - The percentage of blood filling the left ventricle during each heartbeat that flows out of the ventricle into the body's circulatory system. This reading is a direct measure of the "pumping" capability of the heart. Damaged/diseased hearts may have an ejection fraction below 50%.

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) - A method of recording the electrical impulses given off by the heart as it beats. This may be done while resting or exercising.

Electrocautery - The use of electrical currents to stop bleeding during surgery.

Electrode - Transmits or receives electrical impulses from one point to another.

Electrogram (EGM) - A picture of the electrical activity of the heart as sensed from within the heart. This is different from an ECG, which is a picture of your heart's electrical activity sensed from the surface of your skin.

Electromagnetic field - Invisible lines of force that are the result of the use of electricity, such as anything plugged into an outlet or operated by a battery.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) - Produced by an electromagnetic field -- if strong enough, it may interfere with the operation of an AICD system. This happens only on very rare occasions.

Electrophysiology (EP) test or study - An observation and measurement of the electrical impulses running through the heart as it beats. This test can help a doctor to recognize abnormal heart rhythms, to determine the origin of arrhythmias and to determine how well medicines are working. A doctor may also use the test to observe the implantable defibrillator to see how well it functions during an abnormal heart rhythm.

Endocardial lead - A long, thin insulated wire that runs from a pulse generator through a vein into the heart. The lead transmits signals from the heart to the pulse generator and transmits therapy from the pulse generator to the heart.

Endocardial - The inside surface of the heart. Endocardial leads are inserted into the heart through the veins.

ENDOTAK^� - An implantable lead system used to sense heart rhythms and deliver energy to the heart.

Epicardial - The outside surface of the heart. Epicardial leads are placed on the heart during open-chest surgery.

Heart attack - A myocardial infarction (MI). This occurs when an artery that feeds the heart becomes blocked. As a result, blood does not get to some parts of the heart and some of the heart tissue dies. Symptoms may include nausea, shortness of breath and pain in the chest, arm or neck.

Heart block - A condition in which the natural pacemaker signals sent out by the S-A node are delayed or fail to reach the ventricles.

Heart rhythm - Another term for heartbeat. You may hear your doctor refer to your rhythm as being normal or irregular, meaning there is an abnormality. A normal heart rate typically ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute at rest.

Hot can (Active can) - Electrical current flows from the lead in the heart to the surface of the pulse generator.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)A device implanted in the abdomen or pectoral region which is used to treat potentially fatal fast heart rhythms by delivering electrical energy to the heart to restore the heart's normal rhythms.

Implanted - placed inside the body. The AICD system is an implanted system.

Incision - The cut or wound produced by cutting into the body in order to perform surgery; the cut becomes a scar after surgery.

Laparoscopy A form of minimally invasive surgery in which viewing endoscopes and small-diameter surgical instruments are inserted into the abdominal cavity through multiple small incisions instead of through large abdominal incisions.

Lead - An insulated wire that carries the heart signal to the pulse generator and energy from the pulse generator to the heart. The leads are attached to the surface of the heart or passed into your heart through the veins.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) - Procedural techniques which limit the size of the abdominal incisions by using small incisions to gain access to the surgical site.

Myocardial infarction (MI) - Also called a heart attack. This occurs when an artery that feeds the heart becomes blocked. As a result, blood does not get to some parts of the heart and some of the heart tissue dies. Symptoms may include nausea, shortness of breath and pain in the chest, arm or neck.

Myocardial ischemia - Oxygen deprivation of the heart muscle caused by a blockage in the blood vessels serving a particular region of the heart.

Over-the-wire (OTW) catheters - Balloon catheters which are delivered over a separate guidewire to position the balloon across the lesion.

Oxygenated - Carrying oxygen within. Blood that is carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the body tissue is oxygenated.

Pacemaker leadAn electrically insulated conductor that carries signals between the pulse generator (pacemaker) and the heart. Some leads enter the heart through a vein, and other leads attach to the outer surface of the heart.

Pacemaker system - A two-part electrical system that includes a pulse generator (pacemaker) and one or two leads. It helps pace the heart when the natural rate is too slow to pump enough blood to the body.

Pectoral - The area near the breast or upper chest.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) - Percutaneous (through the skin) transluminal (through the blood vessel) coronary (of the heart) angioplasty (plastic repair of the blood vessels) is a minimally invasive procedure which uses balloon dilation catheters to enlarge and treat blocked coronary arteries.

Perfusion - A feature available on balloon catheters where holes in the catheter shaft on either side of the balloon allow uninterrupted blood flow to the heart muscle during inflation.

Phlegm (obsolete word, no longer used) - thick, gluey, stringy mucus secreted in the respiratory passages as a result of inflammation, iritation or infection of the airways, and discharged through the mouth. (often synonymous with mucus)

Pink Puffer - term describing the COPD or emphysematic patient whose symptoms are breathlessness, hyperinflation, mild hypoxemia and a low PCO₂.

Plaque - A fatty deposit that causes narrowing of a blood vessel.

Pleura - either of a pair of two-walled sacs of serous membrane that covers and protect the lung.

Pleural Cavity - the space between the two layers of pleura; the chest cavity

Pleural Space - the fluid-filled "space" between the two pleural walls (visceral and parietal pleura).

Pleurisy - inflammation of the pleura with or without diffusion of an exudate into the pleural cavity

Plethysmography or Body Box - an airtight chamber with clear doors where you sit to have your lung volumes measured. Breathing is accomplished through a mouthpiece.

Pneumothorax (PTX)- presence of air in the pleural cavity, caused by by rupture of the plural membrane or by trauma through the chest wall; often referred to as a collapsed lung. Compare to Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - a lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust and occurring especially in miners.

Polycythemia - Too many red blood cells. The condition exists when the hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) count, and total RBC volume are all above normal. .

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) - Positive airway pressure adjuncts are used to mobilize secretions and treat conditions such as atelectasis, or to keep airways open and unobstructed in patients with sleep apnea. They include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), positive expiratory pressure (PEP), expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP)

Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) - a method of mechanical ventilation in which pressure is maintained to increase the volume of gas remaining in the lung at the end of expiration, thus keeping alveoli open and improving gas exchange.
Sometimes called Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)

Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) - process of forcing gases down a patient's trachea using either a manual control technique or using an automatic ventilator. PPV can be done using a manual resuscitator or the rebreathing bag on the anesthesia machine; for long term use an automatic ventilator is usually prescribed.

Post Nasal Discharge (PND) - the sensation of mucus accumulation in the throat or a feeling that mucus is dripping downward from the back of the nose into the throat. Also called Postnasal Drip

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) - condition where cilia in the body fail to beat effectively causing mucus to become trapped in various parts of the respiratory system.

PCD, Immotile Cilia Syndrome (ICS) and Kartagener's Syndrome (KS) refer to the same condition, with the exception that in KS the heart is located on the right side of the body. [Immotile Cilia Syndrome]

Primary Immunodeficiency (PIDS) - Primary immune deficiency diseases are inherited disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or fails to function properly. Often presenting as 'common' infections or conditions (such as asthma or sinusitus), PIDs can go undetected for many years resulting in permanent damage to organs, and even the patient's death.

Plaque - A fatty deposit that causes narrowing of a blood vessel.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) - see Pulmonary Hypertension

Productive Cough - a cough in which mucus or phlegm is dislodged, enabling a person to clear the lungs.

Programmer - Not a person, but a computer-based equipment used to communicate with the pulse generator. It provides information during testing and follow-up exams. The doctor uses the programmer to adjust the pulse generator so that it senses and treats your arrhythmias. The programmer can, for example, help your doctor to determine when the pulse generator needs to be replaced.

Pulse generator - The part of the pacemaker or defibrillator system that contains the electronics and the battery. It is implanted under the skin in the abdominal or pectoral area.

Rapid exchange (RX) - A feature available on balloon catheters, also known as monorail or rail segment, which allows for easy exchange of the balloon catheter without removing the original guidewire.

Sensor - The part of a pacemaker system that senses the body's need for blood flow. The pacemaker uses sensor information to monitor body activity and provide the proper heart rate.

Sino-atrial (SA) node - The small area in the upper right chamber of the heart that signals an electrical impulse to run through the heart to cause the heart to beat. It is often called the "pacemaker" of the heart.

Sinus rhythm - The normal, regular rhythm of the heart, as seen on an ECG.

Stent - Tiny mesh tubes that are implanted into an artery, providing the necessary scaffolding to hold the artery open and ensuring blood flow to the heart.

Sternotomy - A lengthwise incision through the breastbone (sternum) that may be made when heart surgery is performed.

Stress test - A diagnostic test using an ECG machine and a stationary bicycle or treadmill to look at areas of the heart that may have a decreased blood supply.

Subcutaneous (SQ)Beneath the skin

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) - A death due to electrical problems in the heart. It is different from a heart attack, which is heart muscle damage from a blockage rather than an electrical problem. Sudden cardiac death usually is caused by ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. An AICD system, however, greatly reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Support group - A group of patients and their family members coordinated by medial professionals. The AICD support group provides an opportunity for members to share their experiences with AICD therapy and to discuss any concerns.

Tachyarrhythmias - Abnormally fast heart rhythms.

Thoracotomy - An incision into the chest that may be made when heart or lung surgery is performed.

Thrombosis - The use of drugs such as tPA or streptokinase, called thrombolytic agents, to dissolve (lyse) a clot (thrombus).

Transvenous - Passed into the heart through a vein. See endocardial.

Vein - A vessel that carries blood from the body back toward the heart.

VENTAK�A family of implantable devices for patients with abnormal heart rhythms.

Ventricle - One of the two lower chambers of the heart. The right ventricle sends blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle passes blood carrying oxygen to the rest of the body. The ventricles contract at the same time.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) - A very fast, irregular heartbeat that is caused by abnormal impulses coming from several areas of the heart. These abnormal impulses take over the "pacemaker" function of the sino-atrial node. The heartbeat is so fast that the heart doesn't have time to pump enough blood to the brain and body tissue, which may lead to unconsciousness and heart arrest.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) - A fast heartbeat caused by abnormal impulses coming from a single area of the heart. These abnormal impulses also take over the "pacemaker" function of the sino-atrial node. The rapid heartbeat produces symptoms of fainting, dizziness, weakness, blind spots and, eventually, unconsciousness leading to heart arrest.

Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) - Thorascoscopy (aka VATS) is a minimally invasive keyhole surgical procedure which allows the surgeon to directly examine the chest cavity without a big incision.

Virus - organism that causes a wide variety of infections, including colds and influenza.

Vital Capacity (VC) - the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled following a complete lung inflation. The difference between Total Lung Capacity (TLC) and Residual Volume (RV).

Wheezing - the sound made by air moving through partially obstructed airways.

X-Ray - a form of electromagnetic radiation which can penetrate a body to produce in image on film.