Glossary of Terms
The removal of abnormal growths, or harmful substances, from the body.
The surgical removal of all or part of a limb.
A process in which dye is injected into arteries to show blood flow on X-ray in order to diagnose blockages in arteries.
ABI is a non-invasive blood pressure measurement used to diagnose Peripheral Artery Disease.
Arterial obstruction in the distal aorta and iliac arteries manifested by claudication symptoms.
A procedure in which a balloon is placed inside the narrowed artery and inflated to push the blockage against the arterial walls to open narrowed or blocked arteries and improve blood flow. It is not designed to remove plaque.
A procedure to remove blockages and open up an artery to restore or improve blood flow. May be followed by angioplasty once the blockage is reduced.
A build-up of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products and calcium in the inner lining of an artery, which can build up and reduce blood flow through an artery. Often referred to as "hardening of the arteries."
A tiny tube used for gaining access to one of the body's cavities or blood vessels.
A procedure in which small flexible catheters are inserted into the arteries to enable various measurements and to visualize the arteries through the use of X-ray dye.
A condition caused by ischemia (a restriction of the blood supply) of the muscles that results in leg pain, usually during an activity such as walking or when at rest; sometimes referred to as restless leg syndrome.
Also known as atherosclerosis, CAD is a build-up of fatty material in the wall of the coronary artery that causes narrowing or blockage of the artery that supplies blood to the heart.
The sustained, severe decrease of blood flow to the leg that results in rest pain, ulceration and eventual limb loss if left untreated.
An infection of the heart's valves or its inner lining (endocardium). It is a rare but serious complication of permanent pacemaker or defibrillator lead wire placement.
A pulsed, gas laser that creates intense light energy when two atoms form a temporarily excited molecule; a laser that produces a blue laser light within the ultraviolet spectrum.
Short, pulsed bursts of ultraviolet energy delivered through a catheter directly to the obstruction in the artery, vaporizing the blockage into tiny particles, many of which are smaller than the size of a red blood cell and are absorbed into the bloodstream.
The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. More information is available at http://www.hrsonline.org.
A surgically implanted electronic device used for the management of cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure (CHF).
An action or ministration that produces an effect or that is intended to alter the course of a physiologic process.
The inadequate flow of blood.
Laser Angioplasty for Critical Limb Ischemia (a Spectranetics clinical trial).
An acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
A device that amplifies light, then releases it in a coherent, powerful beam.
A hollow, flexible plastic tube containing optical fibers that transmit a circle of excimer laser light.
A blockage in a blood vessel; also known as plaque or stenosis.
The form and structure of the organisms found within the artery. Plaque, thrombus and calcium are three morphologies that cause arterial blockages.
A form of Peripheral Vascular Disease in which fatty deposits build up in the inner linings of artery walls. The build-up restricts blood circulation, resulting in blockage of the leg arteries.
A narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys.
Renarrowing of an artery following an interventional procedure.
A condition in which the body is fighting a severe infection that can be caused by a number of different microbes, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.
A narrowing of an artery.
A blood clot that breaks loose and is carried away by the bloodstream to plug another vessel.
Through a vein or through the venous system, as in the passage of a device or catheter through a vein for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
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About PAD
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Cardiac Lead Removal
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Glossary of Terms
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