A digestive disorder in which stomach acids flow back up into the esophagus.
Graded Exercise Stress Test
A graded exercise stress test involves exercising on a treadmill or bike at increased degrees of difficulty while the heart's response is recorded on an electrocardiogram (EKG). The level of exercise tolerance is measured by changes on the EKG, reported symptoms, as well as blood pressure and heart rate response. It also allows the physician to evaluate the effectiveness of your medical treatment. Patients recovering from a heart attack are usually given a low level exercise stress test prior to discharge.
Guide Catheters
Flexible tubes that are introduced into the vascular system through small incisions in the groin. The physician directs the guide catheter through the vascular system to the site of the lesion. Once positioned in the vessel, the guide catheter functions as a working channel through which smaller devices - such as guidewires - may be introduced.
Guidewire
A thin, usually flexible wire that can be inserted into a confined space to act as a guide to facilitate passage of a device, such as a catheter.
