Glossary of terms

Analgesic

A medicine used to stop pain.

Aneurysm

A ballooning of the wall of a vein, artery, or the heart itself due to weakening of the wall caused by disease, traumatic injury, or an abnormality present at birth.

Angiocardiography

A technique for radiographic examination of the heart chambers and thoracic veins and arteries. A liquid radiocontrast agent, typically containing iodine, is injected into the bloodstream, and the tissues are examined using X-rays.

Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage

A condition in which the pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the right side of the heart instead of the left side.

Anoxia

A condition in which there is no oxygen. This most frequently occurs when the oxygen supply to a part of the body is critically diminished, potentially resulting in the death of the affected tissue.

Antiarrhythmic drugs

Medications used to treat disorders of the heart rate and rhythm.

Anticoagulant

A medication, such as warfarin, used to prevent blood clots from forming.

Aorta

The main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body.

Aortic valve

The valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Arrhythmia

An irregular heart rhythm where the heart beats too fast, too slowly, or irregularly.

Arterial blood

Blood that picks up oxygen in the lungs and normally passes from the lungs to the left side of the heart via the pulmonary veins. This blood is then pumped by the left side of the heart into the arteries that carry it to the rest of the body.

Artery

A vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to all parts of the body.

Atresia

A condition where a passage is blocked or missing.

Atrial septum

Also called the interatrial septum, it is the muscular wall that divides the left and right upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria.

Atrium

One of the upper chambers of the heart where blood collects before passing to the ventricle.

Bacterial endocarditis

Inflammation of the inner layer of the heart caused by bacteria. This condition often affects the heart valves, especially those already damaged by rheumatic disease or congenital abnormalities.

Balloon septostomy

A procedure in which a tube (catheter) is inserted into the heart, and a balloon is inflated on its end to create or enlarge a hole in the septum (wall) of the heart.

Banding

A surgical procedure that narrows the pulmonary artery with a band to reduce blood flow to the lungs.

Bicuspid valve

Any valve with two cusps (flaps or leaflets). This term may refer to a normal mitral valve or an abnormal aortic or pulmonary valve, which usually has three cusps.

Blood pressure

The force exerted by flowing blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is measured as:

• Systolic pressure: The pressure when the heart contracts to pump blood into the aorta.
• Diastolic pressure: The pressure when the heart relaxes and refills with blood.

Blue blood

Blood returning from the body to the heart, pumped to the lungs to pick up oxygen and become red blood.

Bradycardia

A slow heart rate.

BT shunt

A surgical procedure to redirect blood from an arm artery to the lungs.

Cardiac

Relating to the heart.

Cardiac arrest

The cessation of the heartbeat, causing blood pressure to drop abruptly and blood circulation to cease.

Cardiologist

A doctor specialising in heart health.

Catheter

A narrow tube inserted into a vein or artery and directed to the heart to assist in diagnosis or repair.

Chest drains

Tubes inserted after heart surgery to drain fluid from the chest cavity.

Coarctation of the aorta

A narrowing of the aorta, the artery that carries blood from the heart to the body.

Congenital

Existing at birth.

Congenital anomaly

An abnormality present at birth.

Congenital heart defect

A malformation of the heart or its major blood vessels present at birth.

Coronary arteries

The two arteries that branch from the aorta, arch over the top of the heart, and supply blood to the heart muscle.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)

A method used to keep small airways open, often before a patient is removed from complete ventilation.

Cyanosed

A condition where there is insufficient oxygen in the blood, causing a bluish appearance of the skin.

Cyanosis

A bluish discoloration of the skin due to insufficient oxygen in the blood. This occurs when haemoglobin is not carrying oxygen and appears dark burgundy, referred to as “reduced haemoglobin.”

Dextra cardia

A condition where the heart is located on the right side of the chest instead of the left.

Digoxin

A medication used to strengthen or slow the contraction of the heart.

Dilated cardiomyopathy

A condition where the heart becomes enlarged and weakened, often due to a virus.

Diuretic

Medications that assist the kidneys in producing and excreting more urine.

Doppler

A test using sound waves to measure the speed and direction of blood flow in the heart.

Drain

A tube used to remove fluid from the body.

Ductus arteriosus

A fetal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. It typically closes shortly after birth; if it remains open, it is known as a patent or open ductus arteriosus.

Dysrhythmia (arrhythmia)

An abnormal heart rhythm.

Edema

The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in the tissues of the body.

ECG (electrocardiogram)

A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.

Echo (echocardiogram)

An imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of the heart.

ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)

A bypass machine used to support the heart, allowing it to rest after surgery or during severe illness.

Endocarditis

An infection of the heart’s inner lining.

Heart disease

A general term for ailments of the heart or blood vessels, whether congenital (present at birth) or acquired later in life.

Heart failure

A condition where the heart cannot maintain adequate blood circulation. It does not mean the heart has stopped but that it is functioning below required levels.

Heart-lung machine

A specialised device that provides circulation to the body during open-heart surgery.

Heart murmur

A sound caused by blood moving through the heart. It may or may not indicate a heart defect.

Heparin

An injectable anticoagulant medication.

Homograft

The transplantation of human tissue, such as a valve or artery.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, which can interfere with its function.

Hypoplastic right ventricle

A condition where the right ventricle of the heart has not developed properly and is undersized.

ICU (intensive care unit)

A specialised hospital unit that provides high-level care immediately after surgery.

Mitral valve

The valve located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. It has two cusps or flaps.

Open-heart surgery

Surgery performed on the inside of the heart after it has been opened.

Pacemaker

A small, battery-powered device placed under the skin and connected to the heart by wires. It monitors and regulates the heartbeat, correcting rhythms that are too fast or too slow.

PDA (patent ductus arteriosus)

A condition where the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel, remains open instead of closing after birth. This causes oxygenated blood to flow back to the lungs.

PICU (paediatric intensive care unit)

A specialised hospital unit providing intensive care for children, often after surgery.

Pericardial effusion

A buildup of fluid in the pericardial sac (the outer covering of the heart). It can be removed with a needle or drained using diuretics.

Pulmonary artery

The large artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary atresia

A condition where blood cannot be pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs because the pulmonary artery is blocked or absent.

Pulmonary hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries leading to the lungs.

Pulmonary stenosis

A narrowing of the passage between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.

Patent foramen ovale

A condition where a hole between the left and right upper chambers of the heart (the foramen ovale) does not close after birth.

Pulmonary

Relating to the lungs.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid accumulation in the lungs, often resulting from critical heart or lung disease.

Pulmonary valve

The valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It has three flaps, or cusps.

Red blood

Blood that has picked up oxygen from the lungs and travels through the left side of the heart to be pumped around the body.

Regurgitation

The abnormal backward flow of blood through a heart valve.

SADS (sudden adult/arrhythmia death syndrome)

A condition that can result in sudden death due to abnormal heart rhythms.

Sats (oxygen saturation)

A measure of the level of oxygen in the blood.

Septa

The muscular walls that divide the chambers of the heart. The atrial septum separates the upper chambers, while the ventricular septum separates the lower chambers.

Septostomy

A procedure to create or enlarge a hole in the septum, the wall between the heart’s chambers.

Shock

A collapse in circulation caused by a heart defect, acquired heart disease, or significant blood loss.

Shunt

A natural or surgically created passageway between two parts of the heart.

Stenosis

A narrowing of an opening or blood vessel. Examples include aortic stenosis or mitral stenosis.

Stent

A short, metal mesh tube expanded into a narrowed artery to keep it open.

Sternum

The breastbone.

Symptomatic

A person is considered symptomatic when they display signs or symptoms of a disease or condition.

Systolic blood pressure

The pressure inside the arteries when the heart contracts with each beat.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate.

TCPC (total cavo pulmonary connection)

A surgical procedure that bypasses the right atrium and pulmonary valve.

Trachea

The windpipe.

Tracheostomy

A surgical procedure to create a hole in the windpipe to assist breathing.

Tricuspid atresia

A condition where the tricuspid valve is absent.

Tricuspid valve

The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle, which has three cusps.

Ultrasound

High-frequency sound vibrations used to create diagnostic images, such as an echocardiogram.

Valve

A structure that opens and closes to regulate blood flow in one direction and prevent backflow.

Valve conduit

An artificial tube with a valve used in some congenital heart surgeries.

Valvular insufficiency

A condition where heart valves close improperly, allowing blood to flow backward.

Vascular

Relating to blood vessels.

Vein

A vessel that carries blood back to the heart.

Venous blood

Blood returning to the heart. It is deoxygenated when returning from the body and oxygenated when returning from the lungs.

Ventricle

One of the heart’s two main pumping chambers. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body, and the right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.