systole
The contraction phase of the cardiac cycle when blood is pumped from the heart chambers.
IABP
Intra-aortic balloon pump, a mechanical cardiac support device.
inotrope
A medication that affects the strength of heart muscle contractions.
ischemic preconditioning
A protective mechanism whereby brief episodes of ischemia make the myocardium more resistant to subsequent prolonged isc...
LIMA
Left internal mammary artery, a preferred conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting, particularly to the left anterior...
LVEF
Left ventricular ejection fraction, a key measurement of heart pump function expressed as a percentage in cardiac assess...
LVH
Left ventricular hypertrophy, an abnormal thickening of the left ventricular wall typically resulting from pressure or v...
LVOT obstruction
Blockage of blood flow through the left ventricular outflow tract, commonly seen in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
MACE
Major adverse cardiac events, a composite endpoint used in cardiovascular clinical trials and outcomes research.
mechanical valve
An artificial heart valve made of durable materials requiring lifelong anticoagulation.
mitral valve prolapse
Condition where mitral valve leaflets bulge backward into the left atrium during ventricular contraction.
MUGA scan
Multi-gated acquisition scan, a nuclear imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to assess cardiac function and c...
multivessel disease
Coronary artery disease involving significant stenoses in two or more major coronary vessels.
myocardial perfusion imaging
Nuclear medicine technique using radioactive tracers to assess blood flow to the heart muscle.
myocardial stunning
Temporary mechanical dysfunction of viable myocardium following restoration of blood flow after a period of ischemia.
myocardial viability
The presence of living, potentially functional myocardial tissue in regions with reduced contractile function.
no-reflow phenomenon
The failure to achieve adequate myocardial reperfusion despite successful reopening of an epicardial coronary artery.
NSTEMI
Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a type of heart attack without specific ECG changes, requiring precise editorial...
NYHA Class
New York Heart Association functional classification system for heart failure symptoms.
PCWP
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, a hemodynamic measurement that reflects left atrial pressure and left ventricular fi...
percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty
Minimally invasive catheter-based procedure to treat mitral stenosis by inflating a balloon across the valve to separate...
percutaneous coronary intervention
A minimally invasive procedure to open blocked coronary arteries using a catheter-based approach, commonly known as angi...
pericardial effusion
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space surrounding the heart.
pericarditis
Inflammation of the pericardium (heart's outer membrane) presenting with characteristic chest pain and requiring specifi...
phonocardiography
Graphic recording of heart sounds and murmurs for diagnostic analysis.