IR
A procedure performed using ultrasound guidance to drain ascites fluid.
What is a paracentesis?
A study performed by accessing the venous system and inserting a pulmonary artery catheter (SwanGanz catheter) into the right side of the heart and into the pulmonary artery, and obtaining blood samples and hemodynamic pressure measurements. Dyspnea is the most common indication for this exam.
What is a right heart catheterization?
A procedure that uses heat delivered through platinum tipped catheters to damage/kill areas of the inside of the heart in order to treat a patient with an abnormal arrhythmia.
What is a radiofrequency ablation?
A diagnostic agent that is introduced into the body to provide a contrast in the visual density of an internal part of the body (or blood vessels), with its surrounding tissues/structures, which assists in the diagnosis of abnormalities.
What is contrast media?
A cardiac emergency in which a person has a 12 lead ECG that shows elevation in the ST segment of the electrocardiogram.
What is a ST elevated MI (STEMI)?
A patient reaction that occurs often with biliary tube placement, in which the patient temperature increases rapidly, and the patient shakes uncontrollably. Demerol is the only treatment.
What is rigors?
A study in which catheters are inserted into the arterial system of the heart to evaluate for the presence of coronary artery disease using fluoroscopy imaging and contrast injections. Chest pain is a common indication for this exam.
What is a left heart catheterization?
A procedure that delivers extreme cold to freeze the inside of the heart to treat abnormal electrical conduction in patients.
What is cryoablation?
A nontoxic, invisible gas used for arterial and venous imaging in patients with renal insufficiency. It is not toxic to the kidneys, and absorbed by the blood and eliminated by the lungs after injection.
What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?
An IgE reaction to a medication (or contrast media), in which a patient experiences systemic edema, specifically laryngeal edema, which causes life-threatening airway obstruction, amongst other systemic issues.
What is anaphylaxis?
A procedure performed for recurring pleural fluid accumulation. This is usually a hospice measure.
What is a tunneled pleural catheter placement?
A device that works as a scaffold to hold open a vessel lumen, or to hold back dissection flaps.
What is a stent?
A procedure that uses either heat or cooling to isolate the pulmonary vessels in order to eliminate an arrhythmia.
What is an A Fib Ablation
A water insoluble inorganic salt suspension used exclusively for radiography of the GI tract. It is taken either orally or rectally.
What is barium sulfate?
An emergent situation in which a patient has lost arterial blood flow to the lower extremity. Without intervention, the patient will lose his/her leg.
What is a cold leg?
A procedure to open, or improve flow, to a dialysis fistula that is occluded, or having high pressures & long post dialysis bleeding times.
What is a fistulogram?
A less invasive procedure to replace an aortic valve, which allows the patient to avoid open heart surgery.
What is a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)?
A filter placed in the left atrial appendage (LAA) to close it off, in an effort to eliminate the risk of stroke from blood clots forming in the LAA.
What is a Watchman device?
Contrast medium used for an MRI exam.
What is gadolinium?
A condition that occurs as a result of some cardiac procedures, trauma, and sometimes spontaneously, in which fluid builds up around the heart putting pressure on the heart causing it to have difficulty pumping effectively. The patient will have shortness of breath with a high respiratory rate, and increased heart rate, as well as enlargement of the neck veins.
What is cardiac tamponade?
A procedure that creates an artificial shunt within the liver, joining the portal vein and the hepatic vein, with the expected outcome to reduce portal hypertension. This is often an emergent procedure due to acute hemorrhage from esophageal varices.
What is a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure?
A stress cardiomyopathy brought on by major stressors in one's life. Symptoms mimic a heart attack, but do resolve.
What is Takotsubo or "Broken heart syndrome"?
The use of catheters to create an image of the inside of the heart.
What is 3D mapping?
The most commonly used radioactive isotope used in nuclear medicine?
What is technetium 99m (Tc-99m)?
An emergency release of the MRI machine that decreases the strength of the magnet, and releases liquid helium and cryogen gases.
What is quenching the magnet, or a quench?