One of the toughest parts of navigating the medical “world” is mastering a new language that seems second nature to those who speak it daily. Understanding and using medical terminology daily is essential for comprehending your child’s condition and advocating effectively when necessary. I’ve compiled a glossary of common medical terms that you’ll find useful throughout this journey. Consider printing it out for quick reference or bookmarking it for future use. My aim is to provide you with a solid foundation to understand the new terms you will encounter.

A

Ablation-elimination or removal. Term commonly used in the cath lab to eliminate an abnormal electrical pathway that causes dangerous heart rhythms.

Alveoli-small air sacs in the lungs

Anemia-low levels or red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit. This may indicate need for a blood transfusion.

Art line-Arterial Line or small catheter placed in an artery (often wrist or groin) that provides beat-to-beat blood pressure as well as allows the team to draw blood easily. A red peaked line on the monitor.

Artery-a vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood

Arrhythmia– an abnormal electrical rhythm of the heart

Atrial fibrillation–A type of arrhythmia in which the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat very fast, causing the walls of the lower chambers (the ventricles) to beat inefficiently as well

Atrial Tachycardia-a fast heart rate that originates in the upper chambers of the heart (atria)

Atrium (right and left)/atria– upper chambers of the heart

Autologous– relating to or from self

AV (atrioventricular) Node-a part of the cardiac conduction system. a group of specialized cells in the interatrial septum that produces the electrical impulses that travel down to ventricular muscle, causing the heart to contract.

B

Bagging-using an anesthesia or ambu bag to support breathing

Bradycardia-slow heart rate (depends on age)

BMP– Basic Metabolic Panel. A blood test that gives levels of 8 different substances in blood. Helpful in determining acid/base balance, hydration/kidney function status and glucose levels

BNP– B-type Natriuretic Peptide. Measure of a protein in the blood that indicates how hard the heart is working. Can be a sign of heart failure when elevated.

C

Capillaries-microscopic vessels that are the bridge between arteries and veins

Cardiac arrest- stopping of the heartbeat, medical emergency

Cardiomegaly-enlarged heart

Cardioversion-use of an electrical current to change an abnormal rhythm to a normal rhythm

CBC– Complete Blood Count. Lab test that measures all the components in blood. Used to diagnose anemia, infection, and other disorders

Central Line– a catheter placed in a large vein in the groin, neck or upper chest

CHD-Congenital Heart Disease. Or a structural defect or problem with the heart

Chyle/Chylous effusion– a milky fluid that collects around the lung when the lymphatic system is damaged. Often treated with a very low-fat diet.

Code– respiratory or cardiac arrest requiring intervention in the form of CPR or respiratory support

Congenital-existing at birth

CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)-emergency measure to maintain a heart rate or breathing. Includes compressions (pushing on the chest), breathing for the patient and defibrillation (electrical shock) to stop abnormal rhythms.

CT/Computerized Tomography– a series of X-rays that are stacked to allow medical professionals to see detailed images within the body.

Cyanosis– decreased oxygen saturation of the blood, giving a blue appearance to the skin.

D

Defibrillation-using an electrical current to stop an abnormal rhythm in the heart. Can be synchronized or unsynchronized based on the type of arrhythmia.

Defibrillator-the machine that provides the shock

Diastolic Blood Pressure– lowest blood pressure measured in the arteries. Measured when the heart is at rest.

Diuretic-a medication used to increase urine output

E

Echo/Echocardiography method of studying the heart’s structure and function by analyzing sound waves bounced off the heart and recorded by an electronic sensor placed on the chest. A computer processes the information to produce a one-, two- or three-dimensional moving picture that shows how the heart and heart valves are functioning.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – A test in which several stickers are placed on the body to monitor electrical activity associated with the heartbeat.

F

Fibrillation-a rapid, uncoordinated contractions of individual heart muscle fibers. The heart chamber involved can’t contract all at once and pumps blood ineffectively, if at all. Emergency situation

Foley-a catheter that extends up into the bladder and drains urine continuously

G

Gas–term used for Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) or Venous Blood Gas (VBG). Blood test that indicates acid/base balance, oxygen/carbon dioxide levels and lactate. Helpful in determining function of respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

Genetic testing– a blood test or cheek swab that tests a person’s genes to find out if he or she is at risk for certain diseases that are passed down through family members.

H

Heart block– a heart rhythm when the electrical impulse that causes the upper and/or lower chambers to beat is delayed or interrupted somewhere along its path.

Heart-lung/Perfusion machine– a machine that oxygenates and pumps blood to the body during open heart surgery; run by a perfusionist

Hematocrit– a result within a CBC (complete blood count) that measures the percentage of red blood cells in a given amount (or volume) of whole blood.

Heterotaxy– a rare condition where many of the organs in the chest and abdomen are formed abnormally, in the wrong position or are even missing.

Hypertension-high blood pressure.

Hypertrophy-enlargement of tissues or organs because of increased workload.

Hypotension-abnormally low blood pressure.

Hypoxia/hypoxic-less than normal content of oxygen being delivered to organs and tissues of the body.

I

Idiopathic-no known cause.

Immunosuppressants- medications used to suppress the body’s immune system. These medicines are used to minimize the chances that the body will reject a newly transplanted organ, such as a heart.

Infarct-when tissue is permanently damaged by an inadequate supply of oxygen.

Inferior vena cava-the large vein that carries blood returning from the legs and abdomen to the heart.

Inotropes-medicine that increases or decreases the strength of the heart’s contraction.

Ischemia-a condition that results in decreased blood flow to an organ, usually due to constriction or obstruction of an artery.

J

K

L

Lactate-Lactic Acid level. Indicates level of oxygen delivery to tissue. High levels can indicate lactic acidosis

M

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)– a machine that uses magnets to produce images of the heart and other body structures. MRI can produce detailed pictures of the heart and its various structures without the need to inject a dye.

Mitral stenosis-a narrowing of the mitral valve, which controls blood flow from the heart’s upper left chamber to its lower left chamber.

Mitral Valve-the valve that controls blood flow between the heart’s left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber).

Murmur-abnormal heart sound that indicates abnormal flow of blood

Myocarditis-a rare condition in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed as a result of infection, toxic medications, or diseases.

Myocardium-the muscular wall of the heart. It contracts to pump blood out of the heart and then relaxes as the heart refills with returning blood.

N

Neb/Nebulizer-a machine that provides a fine mist inhaled medication

O

Open heart surgery– an operation in which the chest and heart are opened and repaired surgically while the bloodstream is diverted through a heart-lung (cardiopulmonary bypass) machine.

P

Pacemaker-an implanted electronic device that helps regulate the heartbeat. Placed in the cath lab or operating room.

Palpitation– an irregular heartbeat that can be non-painful or uncomfortable

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)– congenital defect in which the opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery does not close after birth.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO)– an opening between the left and right atria (the upper chambers) of the heart. Everyone has a PFO before birth, but in 1 out of every 3 or 4 people, the opening does not close naturally, as it should, after birth.

Pericardium-the outer fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.

PICC line/Percutaneously inserted central line– a long, thin, flexible tube placed in arm/leg vein that extends up to the vessels above the heart

Platelets-one of the three types of cells found in blood (measured in CBC); they aid in the clotting of blood.

Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC)– an early or extra heartbeat that happens when the heart’s lower chambers (the ventricles) contract too soon, out of sequence with the normal heartbeat.

Pulmonary- refers to the lungs and respiratory system.

Pulmonary Artery-a branching vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the right and left lungs

Pulmonary Valve– the heart valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery that controls blood flow from the heart into the lungs.

Pulmonary Vein– the four blood vessels (2 on the right, 2 on the left) that carry newly oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart.

Q

R

Regurgitation-abnormal backward flow of blood through a heart valve.

Renal– pertains to the kidneys.

S

Sats/Oxygen Saturation– the percentage of oxygen carried by the blood. 100% is ideal, may be lower at baseline in cyanotic heart disease

Septum-the muscular wall dividing the chambers on the left side of the heart from the chambers on the right.

Shock– a condition in which body function is impaired because the volume of fluid circulating through the body is insufficient to maintain normal metabolism. This may be caused by blood loss or by a disturbance in the function of the circulatory system.

Shunt– a connection that allows blood to flow between two locations. This can occur naturally or surgically. Can be used to describe blood flow within the heart or surgically, a Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) is section of vein or Gore-Tex tube connecting the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery, increasing the amount of blood to the lungs.

Sinus (SA) Node– a group of specialized cells in the top of the right atrium that produces the electrical impulses that travel down to eventually reach the AV node/ventricular muscle, causing the heart to contract.

Sinus rhythm-normal electrical activity of the heart, seen on EKG or monitor

Stent– wire mesh tube placed in a vessel and dilated with a balloon in the cath lab to keep a vessel open

T

U

V

VT/Ventricular Tachycardia- an abnormal and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm that can be treated with medication and/or electricity.

V Fib/Ventricular Fibrillation- a life-threatening heart arrhythmia that causes the lower chambers of the heart to quiver rapidly and uncoordinatedly.

Vein-a vessel that carries oxygen-depleted blood

Ventricles (right and left)-lower chambers of the heart

W

X

X-Ray– study used to visualize structures/organs/tubes in the chest/abdomen.

Y

Z

 

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