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Procedures and Pharmacology
Common Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
angiography: Diagnostic or therapeutic radiography (radiological imaging) of the heart and blood vessels. automated external defibrillator (AED): Small computer-driven defibrilla- tor that analyzes the patient’s rhythm, selects the appropriate energy level, charges the machine, and delivers a shock to the patient. automatic implanted cardioverter defibrillator (AICD): Very small defibril- lator, surgically implanted in patients with a high risk for sudden cardiac death, that automatically detects and treats life-threatening arrhythmias. cardiac catheterization: Evaluation of the heart vessels and valves via the injection of dye that shows up under radiology (Figure 6-8). cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): Emergency procedure that provides manual external cardiac compression and sometimes artificial respiration. cardioversion: Restoration of normal sinus rhythm (NSR) by chemical or electrical means. coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): Surgical creation of an alternate route for blood flow around an area of coronary arterial obstruction (Figure 6-9). defibrillation: Delivery of an electric shock with the goal of ending ventricu- lar fibrillation and restoring NSR.
Catheter entering the coronary artery through the aorta
FIGURE 6-8 Cardiac catheterization.
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