Definition:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm. It is a localized dilatation of the abdominal aorta, that exceeds the normal diameter by more than 50%. The normal diameter of the infrarenal aorta is 2 cm. It is caused by a degenerative process of the aortic wall, but the exact etiology remains unknown.

Usage:

If I had to speculate, I'd say Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is the likely cause of her triple A.

Synonyms:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm, AAA

Created Jul 07, 2009

Definition:

Ventricular tachycardia. It is a tachycardia, or fast heart rhythm that originates in one of the ventricles of the heart. This is a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia because it may lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death.

Usage:

Oh my God, my patient's in v-tach! Call a code!

Synonyms:

ventricular tachycardia, VT

Created Jul 07, 2009

Definition:

Short for bradycardia or bradycardic, it's an abnormally slow heartbeat, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute.

Usage:

Blanche was lightheaded and a little brady when she came in tonight so let's get an ECG.

Synonyms:

bradycardia, bradycardic

Created Jul 20, 2009

Definition:

Pacemaker. It's a device that uses electrical impulse to regulate the beating of a heart.

Usage:

Grandma was using her old microwave to heat up a Hot Pocket and her pacer malfunctioned. The taste of the Cheeseburger Pocket would have probably killed her anyway.

Synonyms:

pacemaker, artificial pacemaker

Created Jul 24, 2009

Definition:

Normal sinus rhythm. This common charting abbreviation describes the normal beating of a heart, as measured by an electrocardiogram.

Usage:

Pt's bp is 150/80, NSR.

Synonyms:

normal sinus rhythm, sinus rhythm

Created Jul 25, 2009

Definition:

Atrial fibrillation. A heart rhythm resulting from the irregular firing of electrical impulses within the atria of the heart which results in an abnormal rhythm.

Usage:

The patient is going back and forth from NSR to A-fib.

Synonyms:

atrial fibrillation

Created Jul 25, 2009

Definition:

Circumflex. It is the left main coronary artery. The circ travels in the left atrio-ventricular groove which separates the left atrium from the left ventricle.

Usage:

The circ was 10 mm in proximal diameter and then sharply widened to 17-19 mm.

Synonyms:

LCX, Cx, circumflex artery, left circumflex artery, circumflex branch of the left coronary artery

Created Aug 29, 2009

Definition:

Myocardial infarction. Also know as a heart attack.

Usage:

Alcohol abuse, stress, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes .... The MI doesn't really surprise me.

Synonyms:

heart attack, MI, AMI, myocardial infarction, acute myocardial infarction

Created Nov 15, 2009

Definition:

A heart that beats to it's own rhythm. A tongue-in-cheek take on the irregular and atypical musical rhythms that are so often associated with Jamaican music.

Usage:

He's kind of got a Jamaican heartbeat.

Created Nov 23, 2009

Definition:

Furosemide. It's a loop diuretic used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and edema.

Usage:

I found some vitamin P in you urine ... so either you a 19-year-old kid with late-stage heart failure or your using it as a masking agent to hide the other drugs you're on.

Synonyms:

frusemide, Lasix

Created Dec 02, 2009

Definition:

The first hour after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Thrombolytic therapy, or "clot busting," is indicated for the treatment an MI if the drug can be administered within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms, the patient is eligible based on exclusion criteria, and primary PCI is not immediately available. The effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy is highest in the first 1-2 hours (the golden hour). After 12 hours, the risk associated with thrombolytic therapy outweighs any benefit. Because irreversible injury occurs within 2–4 hours of the infarction, there is a limited window of time available for reperfusion to work.

Usage:

The golden hour has past. We're going to have to do a bypass.

Synonyms:

golden window

Created Dec 23, 2009

Definition:

Used for many types of nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin is used as a vasodilator to treat heart conditions, such as angina and chronic heart failure. It is one of the oldest and most useful drugs for treating heart disease by shortening or even preventing attacks of angina pectoris. Nitroglycerin comes in forms of tablets, sprays or patches.

Usage:

The nitro should decrease cardiac preload and relieve the chest pain.

Synonyms:

NG, nitroglycerin, trinitroglycerin, trinitroglycerine, trinitroxypropane, glyceryl trinitrate

Created Dec 30, 2009

Definition:

Vital signs. Vital signs are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions. Vital signs are an essential part of a case presentation. The act of taking vital signs normally entails recording Body temperature, Pulse rate (or heart rate), Blood pressure, and Respiratory rate, but may also include other measurements. Vital signs often vary by age.

Usage:

What are her vitals?

Synonyms:

vital signs

Created Jan 06, 2010

Definition:

A stethoscope.

Usage:

I'll grab the guessing tubes. Hmm, sound like Rice Krispies in there.

Created Feb 10, 2010

Definition:

Messed up heart.

Usage:

49 y/o male, MUH ...

Created May 14, 2010