Cardiovascular Anesthesiology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
pericardial constraint
The limiting effect of the pericardium on cardiac filling, particularly evident when intrapericardial pressure is elevated.
ACT
Activated clotting time, a point-of-care test measuring blood coagulation during cardiac surgery.
activated clotting time
Point-of-care coagulation test used to monitor heparin anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass.
afterload reduction
Therapeutic intervention to decrease the resistance against which the left ventricle must pump blood.
antegrade cardioplegia
Delivery of cardioplegic solution through the coronary arteries in the direction of normal blood flow.
aortic insufficiency
Abnormal leakage of blood from the aorta back into the left ventricle during diastole.
aortic punch technique
Surgical method for creating precise aortotomy openings during coronary artery bypass grafting.
aortic root cannula
Specialized tube inserted into the aortic root to deliver cardioplegic solution during cardiac surgery.
aortic root vent
A catheter placed in the ascending aorta to remove air and blood during cardiac surgery.
aortic valve replacement
Surgical procedure replacing a diseased aortic valve with a mechanical or biological prosthesis.
aprotinin
Antifibrinolytic agent previously used to reduce bleeding in cardiac surgery, now largely discontinued due to safety con...
arterial line dampening
Blunting of arterial pressure waveform characteristics due to technical factors affecting accurate pressure measurement.
atrial fibrillation ablation
Surgical or catheter-based procedure to eliminate abnormal electrical pathways causing atrial fibrillation.
bicaval cannulation
Venous drainage technique using separate cannulas in both the superior and inferior vena cavae.
cannulation
Surgical placement of tubes (cannulae) into blood vessels to establish cardiopulmonary bypass circuit.
cardiac index
Cardiac output normalized to body surface area, expressed in L/min/m².
cardioplegia
Solution used to temporarily stop the heart during cardiac surgery to protect the myocardium.
cardioplegia delivery pressure
The pressure at which cardioplegic solution is administered to achieve adequate myocardial distribution and protection.
cardioplegic arrest
Intentional cessation of cardiac electrical and mechanical activity using specialized solutions during surgery.
cerebral desaturation event
A significant decrease in regional cerebral oxygen saturation detected by near-infrared spectroscopy during cardiac surg...
cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy
Non-invasive monitoring of cerebral tissue oxygenation using near-infrared light absorption.
cerebral oximetry
Non-invasive monitoring technique measuring regional cerebral oxygen saturation during cardiac surgery.
chronotropic incompetence
The inability to increase heart rate appropriately in response to increased metabolic demand or pharmacological stimulat...
coagulopathy
Abnormal blood clotting function commonly occurring during cardiac surgery due to multiple factors including cardiopulmo...
cold agglutinins
Antibodies that cause red blood cell clumping at low temperatures, complicating hypothermic cardiac surgery.