bradycardia
Pronunciation: brad-ee-KAR-dee-ah
Heart rate below 60 beats per minute, requiring careful editorial distinction from tachycardia in clinical documentation.
Full Definition
A condition characterized by an abnormally slow heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute in adults. In medical editing, this term is frequently encountered in ECG interpretations, patient assessments, and treatment protocols. Editors must be vigilant about context, as bradycardia can be physiological (normal in athletes) or pathological (indicating underlying cardiac issues). The term appears in various clinical scenarios from emergency medicine to cardiothoracic surgery documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Always verify heart rate values when this term appears; distinguish from bradyarrhythmia which implies irregular rhythm.
In Context
- "The patient presented with symptomatic bradycardia requiring immediate pacemaker insertion." — Emergency department report
- "Post-operative bradycardia was managed with temporary external pacing." — Surgical case notes