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blood transfusion
the transfer of blood, or blood components such as red blood cells, from a donor to a recipient
bone marrow transplant
the replacement of diseased bone marrow cells in a patient with healthy bone marrow cells from a donor
cardioversion
procedure in which controlled electrical shocks are sent through the heart to restore normal cardiac rhythm in a patient with arrhythmia
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
a shunt (passageway) established surgically, that allows blood to travel from the aorta to a branch of the coronary artery at a point beyond an obstruction
vein graft
vein removed from the leg is stitched to the aorta and coronary artery
defibrillation
procedure used to stop atrial or ventricular fibrillation by means of drugs or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) surgically placed in the chest or abdomen
endarterectomy
a surgical procedure that removes plaque from the lining of an artery
heart transplantation
the grafting of a living heart to a patient from a donor who was clinically brain dead but on life support
pacemaker
an electrical device that is implanted in the chest or abdomen to control abnormal cardiac rhythms through a series of electrical discharges
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
a minimally invasive procedure for opening up blocked coronary arteries, allowing blood to circulate unobstructed to the heart muscle
angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor
medication that keeps the body from making a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow)
antianginal
medication used to prevent or alleviate angina (spasmodic chest pain)
antiarrhythmic
an agent used to alleviate or prevent cardiac arrhythmia
anticoagulant (aka blood thinner)
an agent used to prevent the formation of blood clots
antihypertensive
medication used to counteract high blood pressure
beta blocker
a drug used to treat angina, hypertension, and heart rhythm disorders, as well as migraines, panic attacks, and tremors
calcium channel blocker
a drug used to dilate arteries and reduce blood pressure, making it easier for the heart to pump blood
diuretic
medication that helps reduce excess water in the body
hypolipidemic
medication used to reduce lipid concentrations in the blood serum
thrombolytic
medications that help dissolve blood clots
vasoconstrictor
a agent that constricts blood vessels, increasing blood pressure
vasodilator
a agent that stimulates dilation of blood vessels
WBC
white blood cell
SA
sinoatrial
RBC
red blood cell