Anastomotic

The surgical connection of separate or severed tubular hollow organs to form a continuous channel; of or relating to or exhibiting anastomosis

Arteries

The thick, muscular tubes that carry blood away from the heart

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart. Oxygen-poor blood travels from the right atrium to the right ventricle and out to the lungs. Oxygen-rich blood travels from the left atrium to the left ventricle and out to the body.

Axial Flow Blood Pump

The impeller pushes the blood in a direction parallel to the blood pump shaft.

Blood clots

The conversion of blood into a semisolid gel.

Blood thinner

Medication used to prevent blood clots or keep the blood in a liquid form.

Blood vessels

An extensive network of flexible tubes that carries blood to and from the heart and throughout the body. The blood vessels are the transportation system of the body. The blood vessels include arteries, capillaries, and veins.

CABG

(pronounced “Cabbage”) Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. A heart surgery procedure that treats the symptoms of coronary artery disease. CABG surgery reroutes (or “bypasses”) the blood flow around the blockages in the coronary arteries, restoring blood flow to the heart muscle itself.

Cannulae

Tubes that connect the heart and blood vessels to the pump.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

A disease in which plaque deposits containing cholesterol atherosclerosis and fat globules are deposited within the arteries.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath, perceived difficulty breathing.

Ejection Fraction (EF)

A measure of how efficient the heart is able to eject blood from the ventricles to the rest of the body. Ejection fraction is expressed in percentage.

Endovascular

Of or relating to a surgical procedure in which a catheter containing medications or miniature instruments is inserted into a blood vessel for the treatment of vascular disease.

Graft

A tube created by using portions of another artery or vein from the patient’s body or synthetic materials to reroute blood around a blockage.

Heartbeat

A heartbeat consists of the contraction of the atria, quickly followed by the contraction of the ventricles. The rate of the heartbeat varies according to the different levels of activity: the higher the level of activity or emotional excitement, the faster the heart will beat.

Heart chambers

The four sections of the heart through which blood is pumped. The two upper chambers are called the left atrium and right atrium. The two lower chambers are the left and right ventricles. Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs enters the left atrium, while oxygen-depleted blood from the rest of the body flows into the right atrium. Both atria simultaneously pump blood into the ventricles. The ventricles then pump the blood to the lungs (from right ventricle) and to the rest of the body (from the left ventricle).

Heart Failure (HF)

The inability of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body to meet the body’s metabolic needs.

Hemolysis

The destruction of the red blood cells with the liberation of hemoglobin, which diffuses into the surrounding fluid.

Impeller

The rotor inside a tube or conduit to increase the pressure and flow of a fluid.

Interventional cardiologist

The medical doctors who specialize in performing minimally invasive procedures, such as cardiac catheterization or angioplasty, to diagnose and treat heart disease.

Ischemic

Not receiving adequate blood flow, oxygen starved tissue.

Left Atrium (LA)

The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the left and right pulmonary veins.

Left Ventricle (LV)

The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta and to the rest of the body.

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a battery-operated, mechanical pump-type device that is surgically implanted. It helps maintain the pumping ability of a heart that cannot effectively work on its own and is used primarly to support end-stage heart failure patients.

Mini-thoracotomy

Is a small incision along the patient’s ribs to open the chest.

Myocardial infarction

Death of myocardial tissue (heart muscle).

Myocardial revascularization

Returning/improving blood flow to the myocardium (heart muscle).

NYHA Class III

Marked limitation of physical activity; comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary activity causes fatigue or dyspnea. This classification was established by the New York Heart Assoication (NYHA).

NYHA Class IV

Unable to carry on any physical activity without symptoms; symptoms are present even at rest and increase if any physical activity is undertaken. This classification was established by the New York Hospital Assoication (NYHA).

Pocket Circulatory Assist (PCA) device

A pocket circulatory assist device is a battery-operated, mechanical pump device which is designed to be endovascularly implanted for long-term support of chronic heart failure. It is designed to work together with the native heart to increase cardiac output and improve or relief the symptoms of chronic heart failure.

Pulmonary Veins

The pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.

Right Atrium (RA)

Receives oxygen depleted blood from the body and passes it on to the right ventricle.

Right Ventricle (RV)

Receives blood from the right atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary artery into the lungs where it is enriched with oxygen.

Septum

The wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart.

Subcutaneous

Placed beneath the skin.

Thrombus

A blood clot that obstructs a blood vessel or a cavity of the heart.

Transseptal

Across a septum.

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)

A ventricular assist device is a battery-operated, mechanical pump-type device that is surgically implanted. It helps maintain the pumping ability of a heart that cannot effectively work on its own and is used primarly to support end-stage heart failure patients.

Valves

Flap-like structures that maintain blood flow in one direction only, through the heart.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary artery and to the lungs. The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood through the aorta and to the rest of the body.

ACE

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme

AICD

Automatic Implantable Cardiodefibrillator

ARB

Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker

CI

Cardiac Index

CO

Cardiac Output

CRT

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

EDV

End Diastolic Volume

EF

Ejection Fraction

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

INR

International Normalized Ratio

LVEDP

Left Ventricle End Diastolic Pressure

NYHA

New York Heart Association

PAP

Pulmonary Artery Pressures

PCWP

Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure

PFH

Plasma Free Hemoglobin

PT

Prothrombin