Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery/Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (MICS CABG)

Glossary

Ambulation
The act of walking

Anastomoses
An operative union of two hollow or tubular structures

Anatomic
Relating to anatomy

Aneurysm
An abnormal blood-filled dilatation usually caused by weakening of the vessel wall

Atrial
Of or pertaining to either of the two upper chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the veins and in turn force it into the ventricles

Atrial Fibrillation
Rapid uncoordinated contractions of the atria of the heart resulting in a lack of synchronism between heartbeat and pulse beat

Calcified Plaque
Hardening of the fatty material on the inner lining of an arterial wall

Cardiothoracic Surgery
Surgery relating to the heart and chest

Contraindication
A symptom or circumstance that renders the carrying out of a medical procedure inadvisable, usually because of risk

Cox Maze III Procedure
An operative procedure developed by James Cox, MD, and his associates in which incisions are made in a maze-like pattern in the right and left atriums of the heart in order to interrupt the abnormal electrical impulses that
cause atrial fibrillation

Cryoenergy
The use of extremely cold temperatures to freeze cardiac tissue

Mitral Valve
The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart, consisting of two triangular flaps of tissue, that prevents the blood from flowing back into the atrium

Modality
The application of a therapeutic agent or regimen

Myocardium
The middle muscular layer of the heart

Off-pump
Without the use of a heart-lung machine, a machine that takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery

Radioisotope
A radioactive isotope, usually artificially produced

Revascularization
Surgical procedure for the provision of a new,additional or augmented blood supply to a body part or organ

Septal
Of or pertaining to a thin partition or membrane that divides two cavities or masses of softer tissue

Stent
A small, self-expanding, mesh-like tube inserted into a blocked or narrowed
artery to restore blood flow

Thoracic
Pertaining to the chest cavity; the area of the body between the neck and
the abdomen, encased in the ribs

Thoracotomy
Incision into the chest wall

Transradial
Route or access of the radial artery in the wrist

Ventricular
Of or pertaining to either of the two lower chambers on each side of the
heart that receive blood from the atria and in turn force it into the arteries