Heart industry abbreviations

• by ccmoore
• 2008-07-17 04:07:04
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 1911 views
• 5 comments

Not sure where to post this so I chose Conditions ...

Just a short update: Saturday will be 9 weeks since ICD install and I feel so much better now than I did at week 2 or 3 it is amazing. Last Friday I got to spend an hour with the PM tech and he made some adjustments which got rid of that winded feeling when I went up a flight of stairs.

For those not feeling right - keep learning, asking questions and being a pain. No one else is out there that is going to advocate for you.

Since I joined this club the abbreviations have given me fits, so here is a list that I have collected since joining.
It is not complete. I hope that it is accurate but review and comments welcome.

I will post an update every couple of months.

Abbreviations
AF or A Fib = atrial fibrillation
AV = atrioventricular
ApVp = Atrial Paced Ventricle Paced, This is the rate response mode
ApVs = Atrial paced Ventricle Sensed
AsVp = Atrial Sensed Ventricle Paced
AsVs = Atrial Sensed Ventricle Sensed
BBB= bundle branch block
BP = blood pressure
BPM = beats per minute
BRADY = bradyarrhythmia or bradycardia (slow heartrate)
CHF = congestive heart failure
COPD = ??
CT = surgeon
DFT = ??
DHF = diastolic heart failure
ECG = electro cardio graph
EP = electrophysiologist (type of cardiologist sort of a heart electrician)
EF = ejection fraction
HB = heart block
HR = heart rate in beats per minute
ICD = implantable cordioverter defibrillator, scientific name
ICD = implantable cardio device, common name
ICD = implantable cardio defibrillator, slang
ICD = I can't die, from Medtees
IST = inappropriate sinus tachycardia
LVNC = ??
NCS = neuro-cardiogenic syncope
PA = physician assistant
PAB = premature atrial beats
PAC = premature atrial contraction
PFO = patent foramen ovale
POTS = postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a form of dysautonomia
PM = pacemaker
PMT = pacemaker mediated tachycardia
PSVT = praxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, proxysmal = starting and stopping suddenly, supraventricular = originating above the ventricles
PVC = premature ventricular contraction
RAL = right atrial
RVL = right ventricle
RV Pacing = right ventricle pacing
SBR = sudden brady response
SSS = sick sinus syndrome
SVT = supraventricular tachycardia
SCA = sudden cardiac arrest
SCD = sudden cardiac death
SA = sinoatrial
TACHY = tachyarrhythmia or tachycardia (fast heartrate)
VF = ventricular fibrillation
VT = ventricular tachycardia
VVS = vaso-vagal syncope