R Raynaud’s disease Raynaud’s disease is one of several primary arteriospastic disorders characterized by episodic vasospasm in the small peripheral arteries and arterioles. It’s triggered by exposure to cold or…
S Septic shock Second only to cardiogenic shock as the leading cause of shock-related death, septic shock involves inadequate tissue perfusion, abnormalities of oxygen supply and demand, metabolic changes, and…
M-O Metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome—also called syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, dysmetabolic syndrome, and multiple metabolic syndrome—is a cluster of conditions characterized by abdominal obesity, high blood glucose (type 2…
P-Q Patent ductus arteriosus The ductus arteriosus is a fetal blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta, just distal to the left subclavian artery. During fetal development,…
H-L Heart failure Heart failure is a term used to describe the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to the body’s tissues. This inability typically results from a complex set…
C Cardiac arrhythmias In cardiac arrhythmias (sometimes called cardiac dysrhythmias), abnormal electrical conduction or automaticity alters the normal heart rate and rhythm. (See Comparing normal and abnormal conduction.) Arrhythmias vary…
F-G Femoral and popliteal aneurysms Femoral and popliteal aneurysms (sometimes called peripheral arterial aneurysms) are the end result of progressive atherosclerotic changes in the medial layer of these major peripheral…
E Endocarditis Endocarditis (also known as infective or bacterial endocarditis) is a bacterial or fungal infection of the endocardium, heart valves, or cardiac prosthesis. Untreated, endocarditis usually is fatal. With…
D Dilated cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy results from extensively damaged myocardial muscle fibers. This disorder interferes with myocardial metabolism and grossly dilates all four chambers of the heart, giving the heart…
A Abdominal aneurysm An aneurysm is an abnormal dilation in an arterial wall. In the abdomen, dilation typically occurs in the aorta between the renal arteries and iliac branches. The…
