Term | Definition |
aneurysm | local widening of an artery |
atherosclerosis | formation of fatty deposits |
Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) | are a group of disease changes in the coronary arteries that lead to plaque or clot formation and heart attack |
catheter ablation | destroy abnormal tissue that is causing arrhythmias. |
cardiac catheterization | flexible catheter via a vein or artery into the heart to detect blood flow and pressure. |
MUGA scan | images the motion of heart wall muscles using radioactive chemicals. |
CHF, congestive heart failure. | a condition in which the heart fails to pump adequate amounts of blood to the tissues |
CAD, coronary artery disease | Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, which can cause angina pectoris or heart attack |
thrombolytic | process reducing blood clot |
lipid test | to measure cholesterol and triglycerides in his bloodstream |
LDL | low-density lipoprotein |
HDL | high-density lipoprotein |
endarterectomy, | the fatty deposits are surgically removed |
thallium stress testing | assesses blood flow to the myocardium during exercise after injection of the radioisotope thallium 201. |
serum enzyme tests | Tests used to determine whether a cardiac infarction has occurred. |
positron emission tomography (PET) | A computerized radiographic technique that employs injected radioactive substances to examine the metabolic activity of various body |
occlusion | closure or blockage of a blood vessel:
coronary occlusion. |
bout | period, spell of |
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | back flow of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract into the esophagus, often leading to burning pain in the esophagus |
esophagitis | esophageal ulcer. |
inflammatory bowel disease | Ulceration of the lining of the intestine characterized by bleeding and diarrhea |
Crohn disease | A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that usually affects the ileum, colon, or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract |
ulcerative colitis | Chronic inflammatory ulceration of the colon, |
motility | capable of moving |
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) | Abnormally increased motility of the intestines including diarrhea and abdominal pain. IBS is commonly associated with emotional stress. |
delineate | outline |
polyp/o | benign growth that protrudes from the mucous membrane |
colonic polyposis | Polyps occurring in the colon |
anal fistula | abnormal tube-like passageway near the anus, which often results from an infection |
anal fissure | painful narrow slit in the mucous membrane of the anus. |
diverticulosis | An abnormal presence of diverticula, particularly through the muscular portion of the sigmoid colon |
cholelithiasis | The presence or development of gallstones, either in the common bile duct or in the gallbladder |
cholangi/o | bile vessel |
barium tests | barium mixture is introduced into the GI tract and then x-ray pictures are obtained |
diverticulum | saclike herniation of the mucosal layer through the muscular wall of the colon. |
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) | contrast medium is injected via a catheter tube through the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and then into the bile ducts |
sigmoidoscopy | Visual inspection of the sigmoid colon by means of a sigmoidoscope |
anastomosis | 1. A connection between two vessels. 2. An opening created by surgical, pathological, or traumatic means between two normally distinct structures. |
surg- | hand |