Guidant Implanted Defibrillators Glossary
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Arrhythmia: An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat.
Atrium: The upper chambers of the heart where blood enters after circulation.
Bradycardia: 60 or fewer heartbeats a minute.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices (CRTD): Machines similar to pacemakers that provide constant gentle electrical stimulation to encourage regular heartbeat.
Defibrillation: Defibrillation is a process used in medical emergencies to terminate ventricular fibrillation. An electric shock can “reset” the natural rhythm of the heart, restoring blood pressure and heartbeat.
Heart Attack: Death of heart muscle tissue due to inadequate blood supply
Heart Failure: The inability for the heart to pump blood under its own power due to failure of electrochemical stimulation or incorrect chamber synchronization
Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD): a small computer that monitors heartbeat and provides stimulation to prevent fibrillation.
Sudden Cardiac Death: Death that occurs because of failure of the heart to beat properly
Tachycardia: More that 120 heartbeats a minute.
Ventricle: The lower chambers of the heart where blood is pumped out to the body.
Ventricular Fibrillation: Ventricular fibrillation occurs when heart muscles contract out of sync with each other. Blood circulation stops after a few seconds, causing brain damage and death within a few minutes.
What
is a defibrillator?
