More than 1.1 million patients have an acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the United States (US) annually, and more than 50% of t

Acute Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis

Chest Pain : • Usually lasts more than 20 minutes and often persists for several hours. The pain of infarction, however,

Acute Myocardial Infarction Pathophysiology

Acute MI is nearly always caused by occlusion of a coronary artery by thrombus overlying a fissured or ruptured atheromatous plaqu

Heart Lung Machine Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The heart-lung machine is medical equipment that provides cardiopulmonary bypass, or mechanical circulatory support of the heart a

Hypertension

Despite widespread efforts to improve education and enhance public awareness, up to 33% of persons with hypertension remain undiag

Hypertension Antiadrenergic Agents

Antiadrenergic Agents Central Acting Drugs Methyldopa (Aldomet), clonidine (Catapres), guanfacine (Tenex), and guanabenz (

Hypertension Treatment

The goal of therapy is not just to bring the blood pressure lower than 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic, but rather to pr

Hypertension Treatment 2

Major Antihypertensive Classes ACE Inhibitors Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors block the conversion of angio

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator Definition The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a surgically implant

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Operation

Operation ICD insertion is considered minor surgery, and can be performed in either an operating room or an electrophysiolog

Lipid Tests Cholesterol Triglycerides Hdl Ldl

Lipid tests Definition Lipid tests are routinely performed on plasma, which is the liquid part of blood without the blood

Pacemakers

Pacemakers - Definition A pacemaker is a surgically implanted electronic device that regulates a cardiac arrhythmia. Pacemakers

Pericardiocentesis

Pericardiocentesis : A procedure performed with a needle to remove fluid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes from the tissue co

Phlebography Venography

Phlebography is an x ray test that provides an image of the leg veins after a contrast dye is injected into a vein in the patient'

Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy is the act of drawing or removing blood from the circulatory system through a cut (incision) or puncture in order to ob