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Glossary
V
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Valve disease |
disease that impairs the function of one or more of the four main valves of the heart |
| Valvotomy/valvulotomy |
An open-heart surgery done to correct a blocked heart valve. A balloon valvulotomy uses a balloon-tipped catheter to open up the valve. |
| Valvular insufficiency |
also known as valvular regurgitation; the heart valve doesn't close tightly, allowing blood to flow or leak backward in the wrong direction; can contribute to heart failure |
| valvular stenosis |
the narrowing of a heart valve opening, causing the leaftlets (flaps) to not open fully and reducing the flow of blood through the valve; can contribute to heart failure |
| Valvuloplasty |
Surgery to repair a defective heart valve. In balloon valvuloplasty, a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted and the balloon inflated, reshaping the deformed valve. |
| Variant angina |
A type of chest pain caused when a muscle spasm narrows one or more coronary arteries, lessening or blocking blood flow to the heart. It generally occurs when a person is at rest and not placing demands for oxygen on the heart. Also called Prinzmetal's angina. |
| Varicose veins |
leg veins that rise above the surface of the skin and may appear flesh colored, blue, or dark purple; often the first sign of chronic vein disease |
| Vasoconstriction |
Constriction of the blood vessels. |
| Vasodilator |
any drug that causes the blood vessels to widen; nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) and hydralazine are examples of vasodilator drugs |
| Vasopressors |
Drugs that increase blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels. They are used to treat low blood pressure, primarily during emergencies when patients are in shock from trauma, surgery, or a heart attack. |
| Vasospasm |
Spasm of the blood vessels. |
| vein ablation |
a less-invasive treatment for vein disease in the large or deep veins; a long, thin tube called a catheter is inserted into your veins and sends out radiofrequency or laser energy to shrink and seal the vein |
| vein bypass surgery |
a surgical treatment for vein disease; a vein from elsewhere in the body is used to create an alternate route for blood to flow around the blocked vein |
| vein stenting |
a treatment for chronic vein disease of the veins in the pelvis; a long, thin tube called a catheter is inserted into the vein, a balloon is inflated in the vein to open it up, and a wire mesh tube called a stent is left in place to prop the vein open |
| vein valve reconstruction |
a treatment for chronic vein disease caused by malformed or damaged vein valves; the vein valves are repaired surgically or through a long, thin tube called a catheter |
