Section I Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Definition Chronic constrictive pericarditis is a chronic inflammatory process that involves both fibrous and serous layers of the pericardium, leading to pericardial thickening and compression (constriction) of the ventricles. The resultant impairment in diastolic filling…
Definition Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is a means of imparting energy for forward flow of blood in the body by manmade devices. Its intent is to remove some or all work of cardiac output from either or both left and…
Section I Cardiac Transplantation in Adults without Congenital Heart Disease Definition Cardiac transplantation is a therapeutic procedure whereby the heart of a suitable donor is implanted into a recipient. Historical Note Carrel and Guthrie first reported successful heterotopic cardiac transplantation…
Cardiomyopathy is a cardiac muscle disease process that leads to clinical myocardial dysfunction. The disease process results in morphologic changes in the heart that are typically classified as (1) dilated cardiomyopathy, (2) ischemic cardiomyopathy, (3) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, (4) restrictive cardiomyopathy,…
Definition Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic myocardial disorder characterized by left and/or right ventricular hypertrophy that is usually, but not always, asymmetric and is associated with microscopic evidence of myocardial fiber disarray and fibrosis. Degree of hypertrophy at any…
Definition Cardiac tumors include benign and malignant neoplasms arising within the cardiac chambers or in the myocardium. Metastatic neoplasms to the heart are not included. Historical Note First recognition of a heart tumor is attributed to Columbus in 1559, followed…
Definition Cardiac trauma is damage done to the heart by penetrating or nonpenetrating injuries. Section I Penetrating Cardiac Trauma Historical Note The first suggestion that wounds of the heart and great vessels could be sutured may have been by Roberts…
Section I Bradycardia Definition Abnormal bradycardia is a slow cardiac rate that results chronically or episodically in inadequate cardiac output or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Historical Note During the early 1700s, peripheral pulsations of the circulation began to be timed, and in…
Definition This chapter discusses regurgitation and stenosis of the tricuspid valve in those uncommon situations in which it occurs as an isolated lesion, as well as tricuspid valve disease associated with mitral or combined mitral and aortic valve disease. Mitral…
Definition Acquired diseases of both the aortic and mitral valves severe enough to require simultaneous surgery (replacement, repair, or valvotomy) are considered in this chapter. Because tricuspid valve disease may form part of this spectrum and require simultaneous surgery, it…