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Definitions
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| ANEURYSM - A bulging or "ballooning" of a blood vessel. ANGIOGRAM/ARTERIOGRAM - An x-ray picture of an artery obtained by an injection of dye into a blood vessel. ANGIOPLASTY -The insertion of a balloon catheter into a blocked blood vessel for the purpose of opening the blocked section. AORTA - A large artery that is the main trunk of the systemic arterial system. ARTERIOGRAM/ANGIOGRAM - An x-ray picture of an artery obtained by an injection of dye into a blood vessel. ARTERY - A blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. ATHEROSCLEROSIS - a vascular disease in which fatty material accumulates on the walls of the blood vessels causing them to become narrow or completely blocked. BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY -- The dilation of a narrowed artery by inflation of a balloon catheter. BYPASS - A detour or re-route blood flow. CAPILLARIES - Small blood vessels that connect veins and arteries and which allow the exchange of nutrients and waste between the blood and tissues CAROTID ARTERY - a major artery leading to the brain on each side of the neck, which if blocked either partially or completely, may cause temporary symptoms or permanent stroke. CATHETER - A small flexible tube that is inserted into the body. CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT (CVA)/ STROKE - A condition resulting from the interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing symptoms lasting more than 24 hours which may include paralysis, loss of consciousness, inability to speak, inability to understand written and or verbal communication, facial drooping, visual disturbances, difficulty swallowing or shock. CHOLESTEROL - A fatty substance that can accumulate in a blood vessel and block the flow of blood in that vessel. It is found in animal dietary sources such as meat and when used in excess in the diet contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY - A condition of poor venous blood flow, swelling, and weakening of the skin tissue. CIRCULATORY SYSTEM - the system of the body that contains the heart, the arteries, the veins and all blood that circulates through the body. COLLATERALS - Small blood vessels developed by the body that bypass a blockage in a larger blood vessel and restore limited blood flow. CLAUDICATION - Muscle cramping or fatigue in the legs that occurs after walking a specific distance and disappears with rest. DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT) - A venous disorder in which a blood clot develops in a deep vein and blocks the flow of blood through that vein. DOPPLER - A low intensity ultrasound used to detect blood flow velocity in arteries or veins. DUPLEX IMAGING - A non-invasive procedure that analyzes blood flow and produces a visual image of the blood vessels. EMBOLECTOMY/THROMBECTOMY - The removal of a blood clot from a blood vessel by surgery. EMBOLISM - The sudden blocking of an artery by a clot that has traveled through the blood caused by an injury or a change in the consistency and flow of the blood. EMBOLUS - A fragment, or small piece of blood clot. ENDARTORECTOMY - The surgical removal of an atherosclerotic plaque from the inner wall of an artery. GANGRENE - Tissue death caused by poor blood flow to the affected area. GRAFTS/BYPASS - Synthetic (manmade) material or a piece of the patient's own vein used for re-touting or bypassing the blood flow. HYPERTENSION - High blood pressure. HYDROCOLLOID DRESSING - A type of dressing used for skin ulcers that helps to remove dead tissue from the wound. INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION - an ache or pain that occurs during exercise and is relieved by rest. This is caused by blockage of an artery due to atherosclerosis. INVASIVE - Tests which involve the injection of dye, and or x-rays to diagnose disease. ISCHEMIA - Obstruction of circulation to a part, often a leg, that is usually temporary. LIGATION - A surgical procedure during which the varicose vein is tied off. LOWER EXTREMITY ARTERIAL DISEASE - a general term used for the signs and symptoms resulting from narrowing or blockage off arteries supplying blood flow the legs. MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAM (MRA) - provides information about blockages and blood flow within the arteries NON-INVASIVE - Tests which do not involve needles, dyes, or x-rays to diagnose arterial or venous diseases. OCCLUSION - Blood vessel blockage. PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE (PVD) - Refers to disease of any of the blood vessels outside of the heart as well as disease of the lymph vessels. It is often narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to a leg and arm muscles. PHLEBITIS - The inflammation of a vein. PLAQUE - The accumulation of substances such as cholesterol and fatty material within a blood vessel which causes the blood vessel to become narrow and obstructed. PLATELETS - Special cells in the blood that helps to repair an injured blood vessel. PULMONARY EMBOLISM (PE) - A complication of DVT in which a blood clot breaks away from an embolus and travels through the circulatory system and becomes caught in a blood vessel of a lung. REST PAIN - Pain in the toes or foot that is caused by poor blood flow. This pain is usually worse at night, and may be relieved by walking or lowering the leg below the rest of the body. SCLEROTHERAPY - A non-surgical treatment of varicose veins in which a solution is injected into the vein that causes it to close off completely. SIGN - Concrete evidence of disease or an indicator of the presence of a disease. STAPLE - A metal clip that secures the edges of a surgical wound. STENT - A stent is a small, stainless-steel mesh tube that is placed within a blood vessel after it has been widened by angioplasty. Stents are used to support the walls of the blood vessels to prevent collapse after angioplasty. STRIPPING - A surgical procedure in which the varicose vein is removed from the leg. STROKE/CVA -- A condition resulting from the interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing symptoms lasting more than 24 hours which may include paralysis, loss of consciousness, inability to speak, inability to understand written and or verbal communication, facial drooping, visual disturbances, difficulty swallowing or shock. SUPERFICIAL VEIN - A vein close to the surface of the skin which is not as thick or as muscular as deep veins. SUTURE - A stitch or series of stitches that secure the edges of a surgical wound. SYMPTOM - Any functional evidence of a disease. THROMBECTOMY/EMBOLECTOMY - The surgical removal of a blood clot from a blood vessel. THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY - Use of medication to dissolve blood clots in veins or arteries. THROMBUS/EMBOLUS - A blood clot. TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK/TIA - A decrease of blood to a part of the brain resulting in stroke-like symptoms that are temporary-or "come and go" lasting less than 24 hours. ULCER - A sore or breakdown of the skin surface and can include deeper tissue. ULTRASOUND - Sound waves that are transmitted over a blood vessel and reflect off of moving red blood cells. VALVES - cup-like structures within the inner wall of a vein which prevent backward flow of blood. VARICOSE VEINS - A common disorder in which superficial veins become enlarged, stretched, often twisted and bulge beneath the skin's surface giving an uneven appearance. Varicose means dilated and twisted. VASCULAR - Pertaining to the heart, blood vessels and lymphatic systems. VEIN - blood vessels that carry the blood from the body back to the heart. A portion of a vein is also sometimes used as a bypass route for blood flow in the veins. VENOUS STASIS - Slowing down or stopping of blood flow in the veins. VENOGRAM -- An x-ray picture of the veins obtained by the injection of dye into the venous system. VENOUS PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS - A simple invasive procedure, which measures the venous pressure and function of the venous valves. VENOUS STASIS DISEASE - Also known as chronic venous insufficiency, this condition is where faulty venous valves allow blood to collect in the lower leg.
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