Year: 2026

A Central Line is a catheter placed into a large central vein with the tip positioned near the heart. It is a medical device and a bedside procedure used to deliver therapies and monitor circulation. In cardiology, it is commonly encountered in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) and during management of shock, advanced heart failure, and complex arrhythmias. It supports rapid, reliable vascular access when peripheral intravenous (IV) lines are not sufficient.

An Arterial Line is a small catheter placed into an artery to measure blood pressure continuously. It is a monitoring device and a bedside procedure used in acute care settings. It also allows repeated arterial blood sampling without repeated needle sticks. It is commonly encountered in cardiology intensive care units, cardiac surgery, and during high-risk hemodynamic management.

Cardioplegia is the intentional, temporary stopping of the heart during cardiac surgery. It is a procedural technique that uses a specialized solution (and often cooling) to protect heart muscle. Cardioplegia is most commonly encountered in operations performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). It helps create a still, bloodless surgical field while aiming to reduce myocardial injury.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of temporary life support that circulates blood through an external pump and oxygenator. ECMO is a device-based procedure used in critical care when the heart, lungs, or both cannot meet the body’s needs. In cardiology, ECMO is most often encountered in cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and post–cardiac surgery instability. It is typically managed in the intensive care unit (ICU) by a multidisciplinary team.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass is a procedure that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs. It uses an external machine to circulate and oxygenate blood during cardiac surgery. It is a cardiothoracic surgical support technique, not a disease or diagnostic test. It is commonly encountered in cardiology when planning or co-managing complex heart operations.

Cardiac Anesthesia is the specialized practice of anesthesia for heart and major thoracic vascular procedures. It is a clinical subspecialty and perioperative care process rather than a disease or a single test. It focuses on maintaining stable circulation, oxygen delivery, and organ perfusion during high-risk cardiac interventions. It is commonly encountered in cardiology around cardiac surgery, structural heart procedures, transesophageal echocardiography, and intensive care unit (ICU) recovery.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase III is a structured, longer-term rehabilitation stage that follows early supervised cardiac rehab. It is a program category focused on maintenance exercise, lifestyle change, and ongoing risk reduction after a cardiac event or diagnosis. It is commonly encountered in outpatient cardiology as patients transition from medically supervised rehab to more independent activity. It often bridges formal rehabilitation and lifelong secondary prevention.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase II is a structured, medically supervised outpatient rehabilitation program after a cardiac event or procedure. It is a therapeutic care pathway, not a diagnosis or a test. It is commonly encountered after myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve procedures, or heart failure (HF) stabilization. It combines monitored exercise training with education and risk-factor management to support safer recovery and long-term cardiovascular health.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase I is the early, usually inpatient, stage of cardiac rehabilitation that begins during or soon after an acute cardiac hospitalization. It is a structured clinical program, not a diagnosis, and it focuses on safe mobilization, education, and discharge planning. It is commonly encountered after myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, or acute decompensated heart failure admissions. It connects acute cardiology care to longer-term prevention and supervised exercise in later phases.

Wearable ECG is a device-based test that records the heart’s electrical activity using sensors worn on the body. It belongs to the category of diagnostic monitoring tools, similar in purpose to standard electrocardiography (ECG). It is commonly encountered in cardiology when evaluating palpitations, suspected arrhythmias, or intermittent symptoms. It is also used in some settings for rhythm surveillance in people with known atrial fibrillation (AF).