atrioventricular block
Definition
Noun: A disorder of the heart's electrical conduction system characterized by a delay or complete interruption in the transmission of electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles. This impairment can cause the heart to beat too slowly (bradycardia), leading to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and fainting.
Usage
The term is used in medical contexts to diagnose and describe a specific type of heart block. It is often abbreviated as AV block. - The cardiologist diagnosed the patient with atrioventricular block after reviewing the ECG. - First-degree atrioventricular block is often asymptomatic and may not require treatment.
Advanced Usage
- Mobitz Type I (Wenckebach) atrioventricular block: A progressive lengthening of the PR interval until a beat is dropped.
- Mobitz Type II atrioventricular block: A sudden, intermittent failure of impulse conduction without preceding PR interval changes.
- Third-degree (complete) atrioventricular block: A complete dissociation between atrial and ventricular activity, where no impulses from the atria reach the ventricles.
Variants and Related Words
- AV block (n): The common abbreviation for atrioventricular block.
- Heart block (n): A more general term for conduction disorders, which includes atrioventricular block.
- Bundle branch block (n): A different conduction disorder affecting the bundle branches, not the AV node itself.
Synonyms
- AV block
- Heart block (in specific contexts)
Related Phrases
- Impaired conduction: The underlying physiological problem in an atrioventricular block.
- Stokes-Adams attack: A historical term for fainting spells (syncope) caused by a sudden, severe heart block.
Noun
-
recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness caused by impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat
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