Glossary

The removal of a circlular surgical band from the pulmonary artery (banding)

Failure to counteract inadequate function or performance

Process to restore an extremely rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) to normal e.g. in the context of heart-lung-reanimation

German Society for Ultrasound in Medicine

Genetic mutation: loss or absence of one or more DNA modules

Congenital location of the heart on the right side of the thorax

Relaxation phase of the heart. The heart muscle slackens and the ventricles fill with blood. The blood is sucked from the atria, via the pulmonary veins into the ventricles. At the end of the diastole the atria actively pump the blood into the ventricles

The lower blood pressure value, e.g. 120/80 mm HG

Originally a naturally occurring compound (digitalis glycoside digoxin and digitoxin) extracted from the foxglove that increases cardiac activity and influences cardiac rhythm

Cardiac glycoside (heart medication)

Disease of the heart muscle with abnormal enlargement of the left or both sides of the heart and inadequate heart pumping function

1.    expansion of the cardiac chambers or the aorta
2.    widening of constrictions in blood vessels and valves (balloon dilation)

Medicines that help reduce oedema and cardiac stress by removing water from the body

Singular ventricle; distinction between DILV or DIRV, depending on which (left/right) ventricle is affected

An imaging technique that is used to visualise the flow of blood in the heart and blood vessels

Origin of the two main arteries from the right-side

Also Trisomy 21; often accompanied by a congenital heart defect (see article on page 20)

Use of a tube to withdraw excess fluid and discharge (e.g. lymph) from wounds, sores or cavities e.g. thorax drainage, to create sufficient space into which the lung can expand after an operation

Natural connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery in the foetus that normally closes within hours, or a few days, after birth

Abnormal shape of the cranium

A pathological mutation of body structures

Abnormal development

Laboured or difficult breathing