Chapter: 6.3 Common Terms

Blue baby - an infant born with cyanosis caused by a congenital heart lesion, most commonly tetralogy of Fallot. Congenital cyanotic heart lesions are diagnosed by cardiac catheterization, angiography, or echocardiography and are corrected surgically, preferably in early childhood.

Bone marrow - transplantation the IV infusion of bone marrow. The marrow may be autologous [from a previously harvested and stored self donation] or aoogeneic[from a living donor]. It is used to treat malignancies, such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and selected solid tumors; and nonmalignant conditions, such as aplastic anemia, immunologic deficiencies, and inborn errors of metabolism.

Brachytheraphy - the placement of radioactive sources in contact with or implanted into the tumor tissues to be treated for a specific period.

Bradycardia - a condition in which the heart rate is less than 60 beats/ min. Brady cardia takes the form of sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, and second- or third degree artrioventricular block.

Brain death - an irreversible form of unconsciousness characterized by a complete loss of brain function while the heart continues to beat. The legal definition of this condition varies from state to state. The usual clinical criteria for brain death include the absence of reflex activity, movements, and spontaneous respiration requiring mechanical ventilation or life support to continue any cardiac function. The pupils are dilated and fixed. Because hypothermia, anaesthesia, poisoning, or drug intoxication may cause deep physiologic depression that resembles brain death these parameters must be within normal limits prior to testing. Diagnosis of brain death may require evaluating and demonstrating that electrical activity of the brain is absent on two electroencephalograms performed 12 to 24 hours apart.

Bronchodilator - a substance, especially a drug, that relaxes contractions of the smooth muscle of the bronchioles to improve ventilation to the lung's, pharmacologic bronchodilators are prescribed to improve aeration in asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchitis, and emphysema. Commonly used bronchodilators include albuterol, terbutaline, and various derivatives and combinations of these drugs.

Cadaver graft - the transfer of tissue from the body of a dead individual to repair a defect in a living person.

Cardiac Catheterization - a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is introduced through an incision into a large vein, usually of an arm or a leg, and threaded through the circulatory system to the heart. The course of the catheter is followed with fluoroscopy, and radiographs may be taken. An electrocardiogram is monitored on an oscilloscope. As the catheter tip passes through the chambers and vessels of the heart, blood pressure is monitored, and blood samples are taken to study the oxygen content. Many conditions may be accurately identified and assessed, including congenital heart disease. Tricuspid stenosis and valvular incompetence.