CIRCC flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Mean arterial pressure formula
- MAP equals (systolic pressure plus twice the diastolic pressure) divided by three, approximating average arterial pressure driving organ perfusion.
- Phlebostatic axis
- Reference point for zeroing transducers located at the fourth intercostal space at the midaxillary line, aligning the sensor with the right atrium.
- Overdamped catheter system
- A pressure monitoring setup with excess damping from bubbles, kinks, or clot that underestimates systolic pressure and flattens the waveform.
- Fick principle
- Cardiac output equals oxygen consumption divided by the arteriovenous oxygen content difference, a fundamental method for measuring cardiac output.
- Coronary flow reserve
- Ratio of maximal hyperemic coronary flow to resting flow; values below about 2.0 suggest significant stenosis or microvascular dysfunction.
- ALARA principle
- As Low As Reasonably Achievable radiation exposure practice using shielding, distance, collimation, and minimized fluoroscopy time.
- Thermodilution cardiac output
- Method using cold injectate and the Stewart-Hamilton equation to calculate cardiac output from the resulting temperature change curve.
- Transducer leveling error
- Misplacing the transducer above or below the phlebostatic axis by 2.5 cm alters measured pressure by roughly 2 mmHg.
- Left anterior descending artery
- Coronary artery supplying the anterior left ventricular wall and anterior two-thirds of the septum; occlusion causes anterior myocardial infarction.
- Circumflex artery territory
- The circumflex artery supplies the lateral and posterolateral left ventricular walls, often giving rise to obtuse marginal branches.
- Normal ejection fraction
- Left ventricular ejection fraction normally ranges from 55 to 70 percent; values below 40 percent indicate reduced systolic function.
- Cardiac output equation
- Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume, normally about 4 to 8 liters per minute at rest.
- Frank-Starling law
- Increasing ventricular end-diastolic volume increases stroke volume up to a physiologic limit, reflecting length-dependent myocardial contractile force.
- Severe aortic stenosis
- Defined by aortic valve area below 1.0 square centimeter, mean gradient at least 40 mmHg, or peak velocity at least 4 meters per second.
- Normal mitral valve area
- The normal mitral valve orifice measures 4 to 6 square centimeters; stenosis is present when area falls below about 1.5 square centimeters.
- Right atrial pressure
- Normal right atrial pressure ranges from 2 to 6 mmHg and reflects right ventricular filling and volume status.
- Coronary sinus
- Venous structure draining most cardiac veins into the right atrium; its ostium is a landmark for mapping and retrograde cardioplegia delivery.
- French size conversion
- One French unit equals one-third millimeter; a 6F catheter has an outer diameter of approximately 2 millimeters.
- Judkins Left catheter
- Preformed guide catheter shaped for engaging the left coronary ostium during angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.
- Activated clotting time
- Point-of-care test of heparin effect; target during percutaneous coronary intervention is typically 250 to 350 seconds.
- Fractional flow reserve
- Ratio of distal to proximal coronary pressure during hyperemia; a value of 0.80 or less indicates a hemodynamically significant lesion.
- Transseptal puncture
- Needle crossing of the interatrial septum at the fossa ovalis, guided by fluoroscopy and echocardiography, to access the left atrium.
- Pericardiocentesis approach
- Needle drainage of pericardial fluid, commonly via subxiphoid route directed toward the left shoulder under imaging guidance.
- Balloon-to-artery ratio
- Comparison of inflated balloon diameter to reference vessel diameter; a ratio near 1.0 is typical for coronary angioplasty sizing.
- Protamine sulfate
- Agent that reverses unfractionated heparin, used when excessive bleeding or heparin effect must be corrected after procedures.
- Contrast-induced nephropathy
- Acute kidney injury following iodinated contrast exposure, prevented by isotonic saline hydration and limiting contrast volume.
- Metformin and contrast
- Metformin is often held around iodinated contrast procedures in patients with renal impairment per institutional protocol to reduce lactic acidosis risk.
- Lead apron shielding
- Protective apparel of at least 0.5 mm lead equivalent worn with thyroid shield and dosimeter to limit occupational radiation exposure.
- Universal protocol
- Pre-procedure safety check verifying patient identity, correct procedure and site, and informed consent before any invasive intervention.
- Access-site assessment
- Post-procedure evaluation for hematoma, bruit, pseudoaneurysm, and distal pulses to detect bleeding or vascular complications.
- Anaphylactoid contrast reaction
- Hypersensitivity response to contrast treated with antihistamines and steroids, with epinephrine and airway support for severe reactions.
- Informed consent elements
- Documentation of procedure purpose, benefits, and risks including bleeding, infection, stroke, arrhythmia, and contrast reactions before intervention.