Glossary

Atrioventricular- (Anatomy) of, relating to, or affecting both the atria and the
ventricles of the heart.

Atresia: The pathological closure, of an opening, passage, or cavity.

Aortic Dissection- A medical condition in which blood forces a tunnel through the
aortic wall, and so flows between the different tissue layers; which consequently
dissects the wall of the aorta, and makes aneurysm formation and rupture far more
likely.

Aortic Regurgitation- A disease in which the aortic valve cusps do not form a tight
seal, and so allow blood to move from the high pressure aorta into the lower pressure
left ventricle on ventricular diastole.

Aortic sclerosis- Stiffening of the aortic valve cusps.

Aspiration-The anaesthetised patients gag reflex is inactive, and so foreign bodies

such as stomach contents may enter the lungs. Equipment is used to minimise this
risk.

Cardiac Output- The volume of blood pumped from the left ventricle in one minute.
This is calculated by the formula: stroke volume x heart rate.

Cardioplegia-deliberate arrest of the action of the heart, as by hypothermia or the

injection of chemicals, to enable complex heart surgery to be carried out

Consultation- An appointment in which a patient discusses their individual condition

with their doctor. It may be pre or post treatment, and often involves a physical
examination.

Comorbidities- Are two or more diseases existing at the same time in the body.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) - The use of a section of vein/ diversion of
an artery in the wall of the thorax, to bypass a blockage in coronary arteries. This
ensures that cardiac muscle has a sufficient supply of blood, and the substances that
it carries.

Coaptation- A joining or adjustment of parts to one another.

Diastole- Relaxation of the cardiac muscle.

Diathermy- The use of high frequency electrical current/ microwaves to produce

heat. The heat may be used to cut through tissue, and cause electrocoagulation,
allowing the surgeon to cut through tissue with minimal blood loss.

Echocardiogram (ECG) - A graphic record produced by an echocardiograph.

Fluoroscopy- Is the method that provides real-time X ray imaging that is especially
useful for guiding a variety of diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Glossary

Heart Rate- The number of cardiac cycles which take place in one minute
(one cardiac cycle consists of both systole and diastole).

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction- The fraction of blood within the left
ventricle that is successfully pumped into the aorta during ventricular systole.
A normal ejection fraction is 55%-70%.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy- An enlargement of the cardiac muscle making

up the left ventricle. LVH can follow aortic stenosis as the left ventricle has to
contract with more force and at a higher frequency in order to supply the body
with enough blood through the stenotic aortic valve. This increased demand
leads to the cardiac muscle increasing in size, reducing the ventricular volume,
and ultimately leading to heart failure. The enlarged left ventricle may also
bulge through the septum, reducing right ventricular volume, and so inducing
pulmonary hypertension.

NICE- National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. This organisation is

responsible for evaluating new treatments, and deciding how the NHS clinical
budget should be distributed.

Peri-procedural- Occurring at about the same time as a medical procedure

Transfemoral- (through an incision in the leg) or tran- apical (through an

incision in the chest between the ribs

Semilunar Valve- Either of two valves, one in the aorta and one in the
pulmonary artery, consisting of a set of three crescent-shaped flaps of tissue
and serving to prevent blood from flowing back into the heart after contraction.

Stenosis- A narrowing or stricture of a passage or vessel

Syncope- Dizziness, often induced by a shortage of respiratory substrates and

so shortage of energy in the brain.

Systole- Contraction of cardiac muscle.