| left ventricular failure | <cardiology> A disorder where the left side of the heart fails to pump blood effectively. This results in a back flow (and pressure) and congestion of blood into the lungs. The causes of this condition include, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, atrial myxoma, drug toxicity and congenital heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, alcoholism, obesity and smoking. Symptoms include increasing shortness of breath with activity and while lying flat. Other symptoms include cough, palpitations, fatigue, decreased urine production and waking in the middle of the nigh with difficulty breathing. Complications include pulmonary oedema, arrhythmias and pleural effusion. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| right ventricular failure | An weakening of the right ventricle that results in the back up of blood in the venous system, liver, gastrointestinal tract and extremities. The causes of this condition include left-sided congestive heart failure, emphysema, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, anaemia, hyperthyroidism, cor pulmonale and congenital heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, alcoholism, obesity and smoking. Symptoms include swelling of the feet and ankles, nocturia, increased distention of neck veins, fatigue, weakness and fainting, Ascites, arrhythmias and pleural effusions are complications of right ventricular failure. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| left-sided heart failure | Inability of the left heart to maintain its circulatory load with corresponding rise in pressure in the pulmonary circulation usually with pulmonary congestion and ultimately pulmonary oedema. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aortico-left ventricular tunnel | Congenital connection between the aorta above exit of coronary arteries and the left ventricle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ventricular dysfunction, left | A condition in which the left ventricle of the heart exhibits a decreased functionality. This decreased function could lead to congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction, among other cardiovascular diseases. Diagnostic measurements that indicate this condition include a diminished ejection fraction and a depressed level of motility of the left ventricular wall. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ventricular function, left | The haemodynamic and electrophysiological action of the left ventricle. Its measurement is an important aspect of the clinical evaluation of patients with heart disease to determine the effects of the disease on cardiac performance. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hypertrophy, left ventricular | Enlargement of the left ventricle of the heart. This increase in ventricular mass is attributed to sustained abnormal pressure or volume loads and is a contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. (12 Dec 1998) |
| left-ventricular assist device | Mechanical pump inserted at some point in the circulation to parallel the activity of the left ventricle and thereby reduce its load. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular ejection time | The time measured clinically from onset to incisural notch of the carotid or other pulse; properly the time of ejection of blood from the left ventricle beginning with aortic valve opening and ending with aortic valve closure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular hypertrophy | <radiology> Coarctation, aortic stenosis (12 Dec 1998) |
| left ventricular myomectomy | Resection of myocardial tissue used in cases of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| left ventricular volume overload | <radiology> VSD, patent ductus arteriosus, mitral incompetence, aortic incompetence (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute kidney failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute renal failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute respiratory failure | Loss of pulmonary function either acute or chronic that results in hypoxaemia or hypercarbia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| backward heart failure | A concept (formerly considered mutually exclusive of forward heart failure) that maintains that the phenomena of congestive heart failure result from passive engorgement of the veins caused by a "backward" rise in pressure proximal to the failing cardiac chambers. Compare: forward heart failure. (05 Mar 2000) |