Glossary

Thinning of the blood. Carried out prior to an operation so that fewer erythrocytes are lost in the event of loss of blood, or to reduce the risk of thrombosis

Effect on cardiovascular functions

Device commonly used in open-heart surgery to temporarily take over the functions of the heart and lungs. Lowering body temperature to 18 - 30° Celsius (hypothermia) reduces, in particular, cardiac and cerebral oxygen requirements.

Gross necrosis of the myocardium due to reduced blood supply and subsequent lack of oxygen following occlusion of the coronary vessels by thrombosis.

Disturbance of the heartbeat caused by a disorder in the conduction system resulting in a delay or absence of contraction of the cardiac chambers; AV block, bundle branch block

Myocardial insufficiency; the heart becomes unable to pump sufficient blood - and therefore oxygen and nutrients - to the organs

Occurs when the blood flows over an irregular surface or constriction exceeds a critical velocity, e.g. valvular stenosis or the sound of backflow through leaking cardiac valves. Diagnosis with ascultation.

Number of heartbeats per minute

Sounds coming from the heart, caused by movements of the cardiac valves and muscular contractions

The diseased heart is removed and replaced by the heart of a deceased donor

A series of bougies of varying sizes, used in cardiac surgery to calibrate the diameters of valves

Anticoagulant substance

Valve-bearing vascular prothesis (conduit) made of synthetic material (Dacron. Goretex), which contains a cardiac valve made of porcine aorta, or bovine and porcine pericardium

Increase of blood pressure above certain values

Ablation

Hilum displacement is caused by vascular mutations, e.g. with left-to-right shunt

Condition probably first described by Hippocrates. Features increased convexity of the finger- and toenails due to persistent cyanosis (see also clubbing) the fingernails are curved like the glass of a pocket watch

Heart-lung transplantation

Heart murmur that can be heard throughout systole

Cadaveric valve (pulmonary or aortic). Usually implanted between a ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Heart transplantation

Accumulation of fluid in foetal body cavities

Excess of cells in the blood. With long-term cyanosis there is an excess of red blood cells (erythrocytes)

A state of increased rate of metabolic activity

Commonly referred to as high blood pressure; a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically raised

Disease of the heart muscles resulting from dysfunctional contraction of cardiomyocytes

Immaturity of the structures on the left side of the heart

Below-normal temperature; artificially induced hypothermia during heart surgery.

Immaturity/congenital absence of the thymus gland

Low blood pressure or abnormally low tension in the muscle

Deficient arterial oxygenation

Lack of oxygen. Often in connection with dyspnea, anxiety, disorientation, tachycardia and increased blood pressure