Glossary of cardiac terms
Glossary of cardiac terms
Explanations of the cardiac terms used in this implementation advice are provided below.
| Cardiac term | Explanation and, where relevant, infective endocarditis risk |
| Aortic regurgitation/incompetence (AR) | Leaking aortic valve that is associated with a diastolic cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis |
| Aortic stenosis (AS) | Narrowed aortic valve that is associated with a systolic cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis |
| Atrial appendage closure device | A medical implant used to block off the heart's left atrial appendage in atrial fibrillation patients to prevent blood clots. Low risk of infective endocarditis. ( N.B. High risk of infective endocarditis in the first six months after implantation) |
| Atrial septal defect (ASD) | Hole connecting venous chambers of heart that is associated with a quiet or no cardiac murmur. Low risk of infective endocarditis |
| Cardiovascular implanted electronic device (CIED) | Cardiac devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis (related to device leads) |
| Central venous system ventriculo-atrial shunt | A medical device that diverts excess cerebro-spinal fluid from ventricles in the brain to the right atrium of the heart. Used, for example, in patients with hydrocephalus Low risk of infective endocarditis. (N.B. High risk of infective endocarditis in the first six months after implantation) |
| Congenital valve abnormalities including bicuspid aortic valve disease (ACHD – adult congenital heart disease) | Heart valve problems present at birth. The most common is when the aortic valve forms with only two leaflets instead of three (i.e. bicuspid aortic valve). Frequently associated with a cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. High risk of infective endocarditis if repair or replacement of the valve using artificial material has occurred. |
| Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) | Complex heart disease present at birth. An abnormal flow of blood leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood that causes central cyanosis (i.e. bluish discolouration of mucous membranes). High risk of infective endocarditis |
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Abnormal thickening of the heart muscle due to genetic abnormality. Can cause breathlessness and heart rhythm abnormalities and can be associated with a cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Mitral regurgitation/incompetence (MR) | Leaking mitral valve that is associated with a systolic cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Mitral stenosis (MS) | Narrowed mitral valve that is associated with a diastolic cardiac murmur, which can be hard to hear. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Mitral valve prolapse or “floppy” or “Barlow” mitral valve (MVP) | These are the most common causes of leaking/regurgitant mitral valves. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Non-rheumatic degenerative valve disease | The most common cause of heart valve disease. Typically caused by age-related degeneration of the valve or prolapse (often associated with calcification) and usually associated with a cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Palliative shunts, conduits or other prostheses | Surgical channels created to correct abnormal blood flow around the heart, to relieve symptoms in advanced or incurable structural heart disease. Variable association with cardiac murmur. High risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) | Leaking pulmonary valve. Low risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Pulmonary stenosis (PS) | Narrowed pulmonary valve. Low risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Pulmonary valvular prosthesis | An artificial replacement of the pulmonary valve of the heart. High risk of infective endocarditis (due to presence of prosthetic material). |
| QT interval prolongation including electrolyte disturbances | An abnormal ECG finding indicating delayed recovery time when the heart prepares for the next heartbeat. May occur due to genetic variants, drugs or abnormal electrolyte states. No cardiac murmur. Low risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) | Rheumatic fever-related inflammation of the heart and valves leading to damage to the valves that may only become evident many years later. Usually associated with a cardiac murmur. Moderate risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Septal defect closure device | An artificial device that closes off an abnormal connection/ “hole in the heart.” No cardiac murmur. Low risk of infective endocarditis. ( N.B. High risk of infective endocarditis in the first six months after implantation) |
| Transcatheter implanted aortic valve | A replacement aortic heart valve implanted by keyhole approach, typically from the groin. High risk of infective endocarditis (due to presence of prosthetic material). |
| Transcatheter procedures | Procedures performed through peripheral blood vessels to change the structure of the heart or heart valves. |
| Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) | Leaking tricuspid valve. Low risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Vascular grafts | Artificial material implanted into the major blood vessels, for example during aortic aneurysm repairs. Low risk of infective endocarditis. (N.B. High risk of infective endocarditis in the first six months after implantation) |
| Vena cava filters | Sieve-like artificial structures implanted in the inferior vena cava that are designed to prevent recurrent embolisation of deep vein clots to heart and lungs. No cardiac murmur. Low risk of infective endocarditis. (N.B. High risk of infective endocarditis in the first six months after implantation) |
| Ventricular assist device | Pump mechanisms implanted into a failing heart that may be used pre-heart transplant. High risk of infective endocarditis. |
| Ventricular septal defect (VSD) | Hole between pumping chambers of heart that is associated with a systolic cardiac murmur. Low risk of infective endocarditis. (N.B. High risk of infective endocarditis in the first six months if any prosthetic material used for closure) |
| Viridans Group Streptococcal Infective Endocarditis (VGS IE) | A common bacterial cause of infective endocarditis that may originate from the oral cavity. |