Newly Diagnosed Resources

You do not need to go to medical school overnight to be a great advocate for your child. It is completely normal to feel lost when doctors start throwing around acronyms. Use this guide to help translate the medical terms you are hearing into everyday language

CHD Glossary: Translating Medical Jargon

The Basics: Parts of the Heart

1

  • Atrium (Right and Left): The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

  • Ventricle (Right and Left): The two lower, pumping chambers of the heart.

  • Aorta: The main and largest artery in the body. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body.

  • Pulmonary Artery: The blood vessel that carries oxygen-poor blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs to get oxygen.

  • Valves: The "doors" between the chambers of the heart that keep blood flowing in the right direction.

Common Heart Defects

2

  • ASD (Atrial Septal Defect): A hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers of the heart.

  • VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect): A hole in the wall between the two lower chambers of the heart.

  • HLHS (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome): A severe defect where the left side of the heart (the main pumping side) is severely underdeveloped.

  • TOF (Tetralogy of Fallot): A combination of four specific heart defects that happen together, affecting how blood flows to the lungs.

  • Coarctation of the Aorta: A narrowing or pinching of the aorta, making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the body.

  • Stenosis: A narrowing of a valve or blood vessel (e.g., Pulmonary Stenosis or Aortic Stenosis), which restricts blood flow.

Tests & Procedures

3

  • Echocardiogram (Echo): An ultrasound of the heart. This is a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your child’s heart so doctors can see its structure and how it is pumping.

  • EKG or ECG (Electrocardiogram): A quick, painless test using small sticky pads placed on the chest to measure the electrical activity and rhythm of the heart.

  • Cardiac Catheterization (Cath): A procedure where a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is guided through a blood vessel in the leg or neck up to the heart. It is used to take detailed pictures, measure pressures, or sometimes fix certain defects without opening the chest.

  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass: The "heart-lung machine." During open-heart surgery, this machine temporarily takes over the job of the heart and lungs so the surgeon can repair the heart while it is still.

Hospital & ICU Terms

4

  • O2 Sats (Oxygen Saturation): The percentage of oxygen in your child’s blood. This is usually measured continuously by a glowing sticker wrapped around their finger or toe.

  • Tachycardia: A heart rate that is beating faster than normal.

  • Bradycardia: A heart rate that is beating slower than normal.

  • Intubated: When a child is on a ventilator (breathing machine) with a breathing tube placed down their airway to help them breathe during or after surgery.

  • Extubated: The removal of the breathing tube so the child can breathe on their own.

  • Chest Tube: A plastic tube temporarily left in the chest after surgery to drain excess fluid and air from around the heart and lungs.

Kerrington’s Heart Tip:

If a doctor uses a word you do not understand, stop them. Say, "I am not familiar with that term, can you please explain it to me simply?" They want you to understand your child's care, so never hesitate to ask for clarification!