Cardiac Surgery Glossary

A surgical connection between two blood vessels, grafts, or hollow organs.

Surgical repair of a heart valve annulus to restore normal valve function.

Fibrous ring at the base of the aorta where the aortic valve leaflets attach; critical for valve sizing and function.

Tear in the aortic wall creating a false lumen between arterial layers. Requires emergency surgical intervention in Type...

Backward flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle due to incompetent aortic valve closure.

Backward flow through the aortic valve during diastole causing left ventricular volume overload.

Pathological dilatation of the aortic root involving the sinuses of Valsalva and often requiring complex surgical repair...

Surgical replacement of the aortic root including the aortic valve and ascending aorta.

Narrowing of the aortic valve opening that restricts blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.

Surgical procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve with a mechanical or biological prosthesis.

Surgical technique that preserves the native aortic valve while replacing the aortic root and sinuses of Valsalva.

Abnormal communication between the aorta and inferior vena cava, often iatrogenic during cardiac surgery.

Rare congenital heart defect characterized by an abnormal communication between the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery...

Surgical incision into the aorta to access the aortic valve or repair aortic pathology.

Artery used as conduit for coronary bypass, typically internal mammary or radial artery, offering superior long-term pat...

Surgical procedure to correct transposition of great arteries by switching the positions of the aorta and pulmonary arte...

Transplanted tissue taken from the same individual, commonly used for valve replacement in cardiac surgery.

Composite aortic root replacement including valve, root, and coronary artery reimplantation for complex aortic pathology...

Congenital heart defect where the aortic valve has two leaflets instead of the normal three.

Use of both internal mammary arteries as arterial conduits in coronary artery bypass surgery.

Coronary artery bypass grafting; surgical creation of alternative pathways around blocked coronary arteries.

The placement of tubes (cannulas) into blood vessels or cardiac chambers to establish cardiopulmonary bypass or provide...

Life-threatening condition where pericardial fluid compresses the heart and impairs filling.

Solution used to arrest the heart and protect the myocardium during cardiac surgery.