Glossary of Common Terms Used in Pediatric Cardiology
A test that tells how much oxygen is in the blood and how well the child is breathing. It also measures the acidity of blood (pH).
A special x-ray of the heart. A fluid that shows up on x-ray is injected into a vessel or chamber of the heart to make a detailed picture.
Lack of oxygen being delivered to important organs.
A medicine that slows the clotting of the blood. Also commonly called a "blood thinner."
The main artery that supplies the blood and oxygen to the body. It usually comes off the left ventricle (main pumping chamber).
The valve between the aorta and the left ventricle. The aortic valve usually has three leaflets.
An abnormal pattern of the beating of the heart; this may be too fast or too slow.
The muscle wall between the left atrium and right atrium.
One of the two upper collecting chambers of the heart. The right atrium collects unoxygenated blood (blue blood) from the body. The left atrium collects oxygenated blood (red blood) from the lungs.
The pressure of the blood in the arteries. Systolic blood pressure is the top number when the heart is contracted. Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number when the heart is relaxed.
Abnormally slow heart rate.
The amount of blood pumped by the heart in one minute.
A machine that functions as the heart and lungs during open-heart surgery. The machine takes blood from the child, oxygenates it and then pumps the oxygenated blood back to the child’s body. This can also be called heart lung bypass or ECMO (extracorporeal membraneous oxygenation).
A small tube used to collect fluid, measure blood pressure or give medicine into a blood vessel or other body chamber.
A test in which a catheter is put into the heart to take pictures (angiography) and measure pressure and oxygen.
A condition where the heart cannot pump well enough, and there is backup of blood and congestion in the veins and lungs.
An x-ray test that uses a computer to make cross-sectional (tomographic) pictures of the chest, heart, great vessels or other organs.
When the lips and nail beds turn blue. This is caused by a loss of oxygen in the blood.
A congenital condition where the heart is located on the right side of the chest instead of the left side where it normally sits.
A special ultrasound test using sound waves (ultrasound) to make pictures of the heart and how it moves. An “echo” gives important information about the structure, function and health of the heart and if there are any abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias).
A type of life support that uses a machine to pump blood rich in oxygen to support the heart or lungs, or both.
A quick, painless test that records the electrical activity of the heart. This test uses a machine to diagnose abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias) of the heart. It also checks to see if the heart is getting enough blood and if any parts of the heart are thicker than they should be. Small stickers called electrodes are put on different parts of the body. Doctors study the shape and size of the waves, the time between waves and the rate and regularity of the heartbeat. This tells the doctor a lot about the heart and its rhythm.
Referring to an unborn baby.
An unborn baby, still growing and developing inside the uterus. In a fetus, blood flow through the heart and lungs is unique; this blood flow pattern will change in the transition from fetus to newborn baby.
A thin, flexible feeding tube that goes through the skin and into the stomach. Liquids, like milk and medicines, go right into your child's stomach through this tube. The g-tube can be easily removed once it no longer needed.
How fast the heart is pumping. This is usually reported in beats per minute.
The study of the flow of blood and the pressures in the heart and blood vessels. This is usually measured during a cardiac catheterization.
Involves the heart and other organs on the "wrong" side of the body. There are different kinds of heterotaxy syndromes, all of which have heart defects. Also, organs like the stomach, intestines, liver, and spleen may be on the wrong side of the chest and abdomen.
High blood pressure.
Less than normal amount of oxygen in the blood.
Too little oxygen in the blood carried to a certain part of the body.
The small wires connected to stickers that are put on the child’s chest to look at the heart on the Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) or for bedside monitoring.
The main pumping chamber of the heart for the body.
The mitral valve is two flaps of skin leaflets between the left atrium and left ventricle. The valve keeps the blood moving forward in one direction.
A test that uses powerful magnets to look inside the body and take pictures of the heart muscle and problems it may have. Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) combines standard magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with an injection of a chemical dye (contrast medium). This lets doctors look at and measure blood flow to the heart muscle.
The sound of turbulent blood flow through the heart and heart valves that is heard by listening (auscultation) with a stethoscope. Murmurs may be normal or abnormal.
A small tube with two prongs that delivers oxygen and air flow into the nostrils.
A machine that provides high flow air or oxygen through a nose mask to help keep the lungs inflated.
Tube that passes through the nose into the stomach. NG tubes are used for feeding infants and children who are not able to take in enough calories by mouth. Tube feedings are also given to older children who cannot eat by mouth.
The most common gastrointestinal (GI) medical/surgical emergency occurring in neonates. NEC is a serious illness in newborns that happens when tissue in the intestine gets swollen and irritated (inflamed). This inflammation can damage or kill the tissue in your baby’s intestine. NEC occurs more often in babies with congenital heart defects than the normal newborn population.
A Latin abbreviation for Nil per os, which means "nothing by mouth." It is an order to not give any oral food and fluids by mouth into the stomach/intestines.
Surgery done on the heart while the blood flow is re-routed through the heart-lung machine.
A gas in the air we breathe. Sometimes extra is needed due to an illness or a heart defect. Every cell in our bodies requires oxygen to do its job. Diseases of the heart and lungs can affect the level of oxygen in the blood and delivered to the body.
Heart surgery to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for heart defects that can’t be fixed.
A plastic tube that is inserted into a large vein to give intravenous (IV) therapy. The catheter is used when IV medicines or nutrition will be needed long term.
Latin phrase "by mouth" or "by way of the mouth." It is an order that means to give feeds or medicines orally.
The valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
The pumping chamber of the heart to the lungs.
Also known as "sats." It is a measurement of the oxygen level in the body using a pulse oximeter.
A dividing wall in the heart.
An abnormal passage of blood between two blood vessels or between the two sides of the heart. A shunt may occur naturally or may be made with surgery.
A heart valve or blood vessel that is too small or smaller than normal.
A wire mesh tube used to keep open an artery. It is placed either surgically or by cardiac catheterization.
An abnormally fast heart rate.
The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle.
A machine that breathes for a patient or helps with breathing.
One of the two lower chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps blood to the pulmonary artery and into the lungs. The left ventricle then pumps this oxygenated blood to the aorta to supply oxygen rich blood to the body.