- Annuloplasty:
- surgical reconstruction of an incompetent heart valve.
- Annuloplasty ring:
- a prosthetic device used by a surgeon to reshape and support a patient's mitral annulus.
- Annulus:
- a fibrous ring surrounding the opening of a cardiac valve that holds the valve leaflets in place.
- Anti-coagulation therapy:
- the use of medications that reduce the clotting of blood in the blood vessels; example Warfarin or Coumadin.
- Aortic Valve:
- a semi-lunar valve between the aorta and the left ventricle of the heart that prevents the blood from flowing back into the left ventricle.
- Artery:
- a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to any part of the body.
- Atrium:
- either of the two upper chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the veins and in turn force it into the ventricles.
- Bio-prosthesis:
- a prosthesis (as a porcine heart valve) consisting of an animal part or containing animal tissue. The advantage of biological heart valves is that most people do not need to take life-long blood thinners, unless they have other conditions (such as atrial fibrillation) that warrant it. Biologic valves, traditionally, were not considered as durable as mechanical valves, especially in younger people. Previously available biologic valves usually needed to be replaced after about 10-15 years. However, some studies show that some biologic valves may last at least 20 years without decline in function. This represents a new milestone in the durability of biologic valves.
- Bovine:
- of or pertaining to the subfamily Bovinae, which includes cattle.
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF):
- a condition in which the heart fails to pump adequate amounts of blood to the tissues, resulting in accumulation of blood returning to the heart from the veins, and often accompanied by distension of the ventricles, edema, and shortness of breath.
- Coronary arteries:
- either of two arteries that originate in the aorta and supply the heart muscle with blood.
- Coronary Artery By-Pass Grafting (CABG):
- Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease. Arteries or veins from elsewhere in the patient's body are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic narrowings and improve the blood supply to the coronary circulation supplying the myocardium (heart muscle). This surgery is usually performed with the heart stopped, necessitating the usage of cardiopulmonary bypass; techniques are available to perform CABG on a beating heart, so-called "off-pump" surgery.
- Coronary Artery Disease:
- a condition and especially one caused by atherosclerosis that reduces the blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle and typically results in chest pain or heart damage called also coronary disease or coronary heart disease.
- Degenerative Valve Disease:
- The most common cause of a leaky mitral valve. The hallmarks of degenerative mitral valve disease include weakness of the leaflets and their supporting structures. Other causes of a leaky valve include infection (endocarditis) of the mitral valve, congenital abnormalities of the mitral valve, and a weakened and dilated heart muscle (usually from previous heart attacks) that causes the two mitral leaflets to be pulled apart.
- Diagnosis:
- the process of determining by examination the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition and/or the decision reached from such an examination.
- Endocarditis:
- inflammation of the endocardium, the membrane that lines the cavities of the heart
- Heart Lung By-Pass Machine:
- This machine does the work of the heart while your heart is stopped for surgery. The machine adds oxygen to the blood, and circulates the blood through your body.
- Ischemia:
- local deficiency of blood supply produced by vasoconstriction or local obstacles to the arterial flow.
- Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation (IMR):
- a complication of coronary heart disease; it primarily occurs in patients with a prior myocardial infarction (heart attack).
- Ischemic Heart Disease:
- "Ischemic" means that an organ (such as the heart) is not getting enough blood and oxygen. "Cardio" means heart and "myopathy" means muscle-related disease. Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a term that doctors use to describe patients who have reduced heart pumping (squeezing) due to coronary artery disease. These patients often have congestive heart failure.
- Mechanical Heart Valve:
- The advantage to mechanical heart valves is their sturdiness. They are designed to last for many years. There are also drawbacks. Due to the artificial material involved, people who receive these valves will need to take life-long blood-thinner medication (anticoagulants) to prevent clots from forming in the mechanical valve. These clots can increase the risk for a stroke. Also, some people report a valve ticking sound that is usually not bothersome. It is the sound of the valve leaflets opening and closing.
- Medications:
- medicinal substances used to treat acute or chronic disease.
- Mitral regurgitation (MR):
- inability of the mitral valve to prevent the flow of blood back from the left ventricle, or lower chamber of the heart, into the left atrium, or upper chamber. Normally, the valve permits blood to flow from the atrium to the ventricle but prevents its return. Most often, the inability of the mitral valve to close adequately is caused by scarring from rheumatic heart disease; it may also be due to a congenital defect of the valve or may arise from defects in the muscles and tendons (the papillary muscles and chordae tendineae) that operate the valve. Less frequently it may be due to endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining) or cardiac tumor. The condition is recognized from characteristic heart sounds and from patterns that show up in echocardiography or electrocardiography.
- Mitral valve:
- the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart, consisting of two triangular flaps of tissue, that prevents the blood from flowing back into the atrium.
- Mitral Valve Repair:
- a surgical procedure used to treat mitral regurgitation by leaving the patient's native valve in place.
- Myocardium:
- the muscular substance of the heart.
- Native Valve:
- a patient's own, original valve.
- Perfusion:
- the passage of fluid through the lymphatic system or blood vessels to an organ or a tissue; during surgery, a qualified perfusionist will operate the heart lung machine.
- Pericardium:
- the membranous sac enclosing the heart.
- Plaque:
- a flat, often raised, patch on the skin or other organ, as on the inner lining of arterial walls in atherosclerosis.
- Porcine:
- of or pertaining to swine (pigs)
- Prognosis:
- a forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease, esp. of the chances of recovery.
- Prolapse:
- a falling down of an organ or part, as the leaflets on a heart valve, from its normal position.
- Prosthesis:
- a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body.
- Pulmonary Valve:
- a semi-lunar valve between the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle of the heart that prevents the blood from flowing back into the right ventricle.
- Revascularization:
- the restoration of the blood circulation of an organ or area, achieved by unblocking obstructed or disrupted blood vessels or by surgically implanting replacements.
- Stenosis:
- a narrowing or stricture of a passage or vessel; often caused by calcification.
- Structural Heart Disease:
- A structural or functional abnormality of the heart, or of the blood vessels supplying the heart, that impairs its normal functioning... valvular disease is an example.
- Therapy:
- the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process.
- Tricuspid Valve:
- the valve, consisting of three triangular flaps of tissue between the right atrium and ventricle of the heart, that keeps blood from flowing back into the atrium.
- Valve Leaflet:
- the cusps that are attached to the valve annulus and guard the opening of the valve; the leaflets open and close to allow the passage of blood through the heart.
- Valve Replacement:
- a surgical procedure that replaces a patient's native valve with a bio-prosthesis (tissue valve) or mechanical valve.
- Valvuloplasty:
- plastic surgery performed on a heart valve to remodel or reshape it.
- Vein:
- one of the systems of branching vessels or tubes conveying blood from various parts of the body to the heart.
- Ventricle:
- either of the two lower chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the atria and in turn force it into the arteries.
