| area of cardiac dullness | A triangular area determined by percussion of the front of the chest; it corresponds to the part of the heart that is not covered by lung tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cardiac | <cardiology> Pertaining to the heart. Origin: L. Cardiacus from Gr. Kardiakos (16 Dec 1997) |
| cardiac accident | Sudden cardiac catastrophe, such as may result from coronary occlusion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac albuminuria | Albuminuria caused by congestive heart failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac alternation | The occurrence of any cardiac phenomenon every other beat. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac aneurysm | Thinning, stretching, and bulging of a weakened ventricular wall, usually as a result of myocardial infarction; rarely postinflammatory or congenital. Synonym: mural aneurysm, ventricular aneurysm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac arrest | This refers to the complete cessation of cardiac activity (heartbeat). (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac arrhythmia | A disturbance the electrical activity of the heart that manifests as an abnormality in heart rate or heart rhythm. Patients with a cardiac arrhythmia may experience a wide variety of symptoms ranging from palpitations to fainting. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac asthma | An asthmatic attack, the bronchoconstriction being secondary to the pulmonary congestion and oedema of left ventricular failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac ballet | Short runs of cardiac dysrhythmia consisting of uniform sequences of repetitive multiform extrasystoles; so called from its undulating appearance, originally described by Bellet. See: torsade de pointes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac blood pool imaging | This noninvasive test uses radioactive tracers to delineate the hearts chambers and major vessels. It may be used to detect a heart attack, heart muscle function and coronary artery disease. The patient receives a radioactive tracer by injection (into a vein) and then the heart is imaged using a gamma camera. The heart is imaged before and after exercise. This test may be used to detect and evaluate atrial septal defect, dilated cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, Lyme disease (secondary), mitral stenosis and superior vena cava syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac care facilities | Institutions specializing in the care of patients with heart disorders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiac catheter | <cardiology> A catheter that can be passed into the heart through a vein or artery, to withdraw samples of blood, measure pressures within the heart's chambers or great vessels, and inject contrast media. It is used mainly in the diagnosis and evaluation of congenital, rheumatic, and coronary artery lesions and to evaluate systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Synonym: cardiac catheter. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac catheterisation | Cardiac catheterisation has given physicians the opportunity to directly diagnose and ascertain the extent of coronary artery occlusive disease. Using this procedure, physicians can make more accurate decisions concerning the best form of treatment for each patients condition. Cardiac catheterisation involves the placement of a thin flexible, hollow tube into the femoral artery in the groin. From here, the catheter is advanced under X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) through the aorta to the heart. Radiopaque contrast, injected into the coronary arteries (as they branch off the aorta) will serve to highlight the course of these vessels when an X-ray is performed. Any coronary blockage or narrowing can be detected using this procedure. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cardiac cell | Strictly speaking any cell of or derived form the cardium of the heart, but often used loosely of heart cells. (18 Nov 1997) |