This is done in the catheter labs it’s done using x-rays and looks at the blood vessels or chambers of the heart. The x-ray pictures trace the course of a special fluid (called contrast or dye), which is visible on x-ray, after it has been injected into the bloodstream. The x-ray pictures are called angiograms.
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Aorta
The large artery that receives blood from the left ventricle (pumping chamber) of the heart and distributes it to the body.
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Aortic valve
The heart valve between the left ventricle and the aorta. It has three flaps, or cusps.
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Arrhythmia
An abnormal rhythm of the heart (too fast/too slow/extra beats).
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Artery
Large blood vessels, which carry, oxygenated blood from the heart around the body.
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Atresia
The absence of a normal opening.
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Atrium
Either one of the two upper chambers of the heart in which blood collects before being passed to the ventricles (pumping chambers).
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Balloon Angioplasty
A procedure in which a special balloon is inserted into a narrowed area of a blood vessel. When the balloon is inflated, the narrowed area is stretched open and then the balloon is removed.
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Balloon Valvuloplasty
A procedure in which a special balloon is inserted into the opening of a narrowed heart valve. When the balloon is inflated, the valve is stretched open and then the balloon is removed.
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Blood pressure
The force or pressure exerted by the heart in pumping blood; pressure of the blood in the arteries.
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Cardiac
To do with the heart.
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Cardiac arrest
When the heart stops beating.
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Cardiology
The study of the heart and its functions in health and disease.
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Cardiovascular
About to the heart and blood vessels.
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Catheterisation
The process of examining the heart by inserting a thin tube (catheter) into a vein or artery and passing it into the heart. It's done to sample oxygen, measure pressure and make x-ray movies, take special xray pictures (see angiography)
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Congenital heart defect
A problem with the heart or major blood vessels that is present at birth.
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Coronary Heart failure
The inability of the heart to pump sufficient oxygen carrying blood out of the heart to the body to allow it to function properly.
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Coronary arteries
Two arteries coming from the aorta. The arteries arch down over the top of the heart, branch and provide blood to the working heart muscle.
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Cyanosis
Blueness of the skin caused by a shortage of oxygen in the blood.
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Diastolic blood pressure
The blood pressure inside the arteries when the heart muscle is relaxed.
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Digoxin
A drug, which makes the contraction of the heart muscle stronger, slows the rate of the heart beat and helps remove extra fluid from body tissues. It's also used sometimes to treat certain arrhythmias.
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Doppler (ultrasound)
A machine that uses sound waves to measure blood flow. On the ward we use a little Doppler to listen for pulses in your foot or hand.
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Dysrhythmia (arrhythmia)
An abnormal rhythm of the heart.
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Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)
A scan of the heart, which uses sound waves to used to make pictures of the heart and other structures to help the doctors diagnose problems.
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Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A graphic record or electrical impulses produced by the heart.
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Endocarditis
An inflammation of the inner lining of the heart or heart valves
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High blood pressure
A chronic increase in blood pressure above the normal range. The increase persists over two or more measurements.
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Hypertension
Same as high blood pressure
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Hypothermia
A procedure that lowers a patient's body temperature during surgery. It stops all blood circulation so the surgeon can safely repair the heart.
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Mitral valve
The heart valve between the left atrium (collecting chamber) and the left ventricle (pumping chamber). It has two flaps, or cusps.
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Open-heart surgery
Surgery done on the opened heart while the bloodstream is diverted through a heart lung machine.
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Pacemaker
The "natural " pacemaker of the heart is called the sinus node. The sinus node is a small mass of special cells in the top of the right atrium of the heart. It produces the electrical impulse that goes to the left atrium and travels down to reach the ventricular muscle. These impulses cause the heart to contract or beat. The term "artificial pacemaker" is applied to an electrical device that can be used to replace a defective natural pacemaker or conduction pathway. The artificial pacemaker controls the heart's beating and rhythm by sending out a series of electrical signals.
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Pulmonary artery
The large artery that receives blood from the right ventricle and takes it to the lungs. It is the only artery in the body, which carries deoxygenated blood.
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Pulmonary valve
The heart valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It has two flaps, or cusps.
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Regurgitation
Abnormal backward flow of blood through a valve of the heart.
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Rubella
Commonly known as German measles.
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Septum
One of the muscular walls dividing the two chambers on the left side of the heart from the two chambers on the right. The atrial septum separates the top chambers and the ventricular septum separates the bottom chambers.
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Stenosis
The narrowing or constriction of an opening (such as a heart valve)
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Systolic blood pressure
Pressure inside the arteries when the heart contracts with each beat.
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Tricuspid valve
The heart valve between the right atrium and right ventricle. It has three flaps, or cusps.
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Ultrasound
High frequency sound waves, that a human ear cannot hear, used in medical diagnosis. In paediatric cardiology the ultrasound test includes both echocardiography (shows a picture of the heart) and the Doppler test (analyzes blood flow).
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Valve
An opening, covered by membrane flaps, between two chambers of the heart or between a chamber of the heart and a blood vessel. When it's closed, no blood normally passes through. Stops blood flowing the wrong way.
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Vascular
Pertaining to the blood vessels.
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Vein
Any one of a series of vessels that carry blood from various body parts of the body back to the heart.
