Cardiovascular Acronyms and Definitions
Navigating the world of heart health can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with a barrage of medical terms and acronyms. At Heart Surgery Gifts, we understand that. Whether you are a patient, a caregiver, or someone simply trying to better understand your heart health, deciphering medical jargon is an important part of the journey.
This post is designed to help you understand some of the most common acronyms you might encounter in the context of cardiovascular care and heart surgery. We hope this list will serve as a useful resource.
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Decoding the Acronyms: Your Guide to Cardiovascular Terms
Here’s a breakdown of common acronyms used in the world of cardiology and heart surgery. We’ve organized them into categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
I. General Cardiovascular & Cardiac Surgery Acronyms:
- AAA: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm – A bulge in the wall of the aorta, the main artery in the abdomen.
- AATS: American Association for Thoracic Surgery – A professional organization for thoracic surgeons.
- ABI: Ankle-Brachial Index – A test that compares blood pressure in your ankle to blood pressure in your arm to assess peripheral artery disease.
- ACE: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme – An enzyme targeted by certain blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors).
- ACS: Acute Coronary Syndrome – A range of conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart, often including heart attack.
- ACT: Activated Clotting Time – A test used to monitor the effectiveness of blood-thinning medications, especially during procedures like cardiopulmonary bypass.
- AF: Atrial Fibrillation – An irregular and often rapid heart rhythm originating in the atria (upper chambers of the heart).
- AICD: Automatic Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (same as ICD) – A device implanted to monitor heart rhythm and deliver electrical shocks to correct life-threatening arrhythmias.
- AMI: Acute Myocardial Infarction – A heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
- ARB: Angiotensin Receptor Blocker – Another type of blood pressure medication.
- ASD: Atrial Septal Defect – A hole in the wall between the two atria of the heart.
- AV: Atrioventricular – Relating to the atrium and ventricle of the heart.
- AVR: Aortic Valve Replacement – Surgical replacement of the aortic valve.
- BAV: Bicuspid Aortic Valve – A condition where the aortic valve has two leaflets instead of the normal three.
- BMI: Body Mass Index – A measure of body fat based on height and weight.
- BSA: Body Surface Area – A calculated measure of the total surface area of the body.
- CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting – A surgical procedure to bypass blocked coronary arteries with healthy blood vessels.
- CAD: Coronary Artery Disease – A condition where the coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked.
- CAM: Complementary and Alternative Medicine – Medical treatments that are used instead of (alternative) or in addition to (complementary) standard medical treatments.
- CCU: Cardiac Care Unit – A specialized hospital unit for patients with serious heart conditions.
- CHF: Congestive Heart Failure (now more commonly referred to as Heart Failure or HF) – A condition where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
- CI: Cardiac Index – A measure of cardiac output adjusted for body size.
- CO: Cardiac Output – The amount of blood the heart pumps per minute.
- CPB: Cardiopulmonary Bypass – A machine that takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery.
- CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – An emergency procedure to restore breathing and circulation.
- CRT: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy – A treatment for heart failure that uses a pacemaker to coordinate the contractions of the heart chambers.
- CRT-D: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator – A CRT device that also includes defibrillator capabilities.
- CRT-P: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker – A CRT device that functions only as a pacemaker.
- CT: Computed Tomography – An imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed images of the body.
- CTA: Computed Tomography Angiography – A CT scan used to visualize blood vessels.
- ECG/EKG: Electrocardiogram – A test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
- ECMO: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation – A life support system that provides oxygen to the blood outside the body.
- EF: Ejection Fraction – A measure of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction.
- ETT: Exercise Tolerance Test – A test that monitors heart function during exercise.
- FDA: Food and Drug Administration – A U.S. government agency that regulates food and drugs.
- HF: Heart Failure – A condition where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
- IABP: Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump – A device that helps the heart pump blood by inflating and deflating a balloon in the aorta.
- ICD: Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator – A device implanted to monitor heart rhythm and deliver electrical shocks to correct life-threatening arrhythmias.
- ICU: Intensive Care Unit – A specialized hospital unit for critically ill patients.
- IMA: Internal Mammary Artery (often LIMA or RIMA for Left or Right) – An artery in the chest wall that is often used as a graft in CABG surgery.
- INR: International Normalized Ratio – A measure of blood clotting time.
- IVUS: Intravascular Ultrasound – A technique that uses ultrasound to visualize the inside of blood vessels.
- LA: Left Atrium – The upper left chamber of the heart.
- LAD: Left Anterior Descending artery – A major coronary artery that supplies blood to the front of the heart.
- LCA: Left Coronary Artery – The main artery that supplies blood to the left side of the heart.
- LIMA: Left Internal Mammary Artery – An artery in the chest wall that is often used as a graft in CABG surgery.
- LV: Left Ventricle – The main pumping chamber of the heart.
- LVAD: Left Ventricular Assist Device – A mechanical pump that helps the left ventricle pump blood.
- LVH: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy – Enlargement of the left ventricle.
- MACCE: Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events – A composite endpoint in clinical trials that includes events like death, heart attack, stroke, and repeat revascularization.
- MI: Myocardial Infarction – A heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
- MICS: Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery – Heart surgery performed through small incisions.
- MODS: Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome – Failure of multiple organ systems, often as a result of severe illness or injury.
- MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging – An imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the body.
- MVR: Mitral Valve Replacement – Surgical replacement of the mitral valve.
- MVP: Mitral Valve Prolapse – A condition where the mitral valve leaflets bulge back into the left atrium.
- NYHA: New York Heart Association (Functional Classification of Heart Failure) – A classification system that describes the severity of heart failure symptoms.
- OR: Operating Room – The room where surgical procedures are performed.
- PA: Pulmonary Artery – The artery that carries blood from the heart to the lungs.
- PDA: Patent Ductus Arteriosus – A congenital heart defect where a blood vessel connecting the aorta and pulmonary artery remains open after birth.
- PCI: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention – A non-surgical procedure to open blocked coronary arteries, often involving angioplasty and stenting.
- PFO: Patent Foramen Ovale – A hole between the left and right atria of the heart that doesn’t close properly after birth.
- PTCA: Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (older term, often used interchangeably with PCI but generally refers to angioplasty without stenting) – An older term for a procedure to open blocked coronary arteries, typically without stenting.
- PV: Pulmonary Vein – The veins that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
- PVR: Pulmonary Vascular Resistance – A measure of the resistance to blood flow in the pulmonary arteries.
- RA: Right Atrium – The upper right chamber of the heart.
- RCA: Right Coronary Artery – A major coronary artery that supplies blood to the right side of the heart.
- RV: Right Ventricle – The lower right chamber of the heart.
- RVAD: Right Ventricular Assist Device – A mechanical pump that helps the right ventricle pump blood.
- SCA: Sudden Cardiac Arrest – A sudden loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness.
- SCD: Sudden Cardiac Death – Death that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly due to a cardiac cause.
- SIRS: Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome – A widespread inflammatory response that can occur in response to severe illness or injury.
- STS: Society of Thoracic Surgeons – A professional organization for thoracic surgeons.
- SV: Stroke Volume – The amount of blood the heart pumps out with each contraction.
- SVR: Systemic Vascular Resistance – A measure of the resistance to blood flow in the systemic arteries.
- TAVR/TAVI: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/Implantation – A minimally invasive procedure to replace the aortic valve using a catheter.
- TEE: Transesophageal Echocardiogram – An echocardiogram performed with a probe inserted into the esophagus.
- TTE: Transthoracic Echocardiogram – An echocardiogram performed with a probe placed on the chest.
- TVR: Tricuspid Valve Replacement – Surgical replacement of the tricuspid valve.
- VAD: Ventricular Assist Device – A mechanical pump that helps the heart pump blood.
- VSD: Ventricular Septal Defect – A hole in the wall between the two ventricles of the heart.
- VT: Ventricular Tachycardia – A rapid heart rhythm originating in the ventricles.
II. Specific Surgical Procedures & Techniques:
- AVR: Aortic Valve Replacement – Surgical replacement of the aortic valve.
- Bentall Procedure: Composite graft replacement of the aortic valve, aortic root, and ascending aorta, with reimplantation of the coronary arteries. – A complex surgery to repair the aortic valve, root, and ascending aorta.
- CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting – A surgical procedure to bypass blocked coronary arteries with healthy blood vessels.
- David Procedure: Aortic valve-sparing operation for aortic root aneurysm. – A surgery to repair an aortic root aneurysm while preserving the patient’s own aortic valve.
- MAZE procedure: A surgical procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. – A surgical procedure to create scar tissue in the atria to block abnormal electrical signals.
- Ross Procedure: Pulmonary autograft replacement of the aortic valve. The pulmonary valve is then replaced with a homograft. – A surgery where the patient’s own pulmonary valve is used to replace the aortic valve.
- TAVR/TAVI: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/Implantation – A minimally invasive procedure to replace the aortic valve using a catheter.
III. Imaging Acronyms (Related to Cardiac Surgery):
- CMR: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance – A type of MRI used to image the heart.
- SPECT: Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (cardiac perfusion imaging) – An imaging technique used to assess blood flow to the heart.
- PET: Positron Emission Tomography (cardiac viability and perfusion imaging) – An imaging technique used to assess heart muscle viability and blood flow.
IV. Electrophysiology Acronyms (Often Related to Surgical Procedures):
- EPS: Electrophysiology Study – A test to evaluate the electrical activity of the heart.
- RF Ablation: Radiofrequency Ablation (for arrhythmias) – A procedure to destroy abnormal heart tissue that causes arrhythmias.
- AVNRT: AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia – A type of supraventricular tachycardia caused by a reentrant circuit in the AV node.
- WPW: Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome – A congenital heart condition that can cause rapid heart rhythms.
We’re Here to Help
We know that dealing with heart conditions and surgery can be scary and confusing. We hope this guide to cardiovascular acronyms has been helpful. Remember, you’re not alone. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare team.
And remember to browse our shop for thoughtful gifts that can provide comfort and support during this challenging time.
Best of luck on your heart health journey!
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.
