CARDIOCENTESIS Meaning and
Definition
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Cardiocentesis is a medical procedure used to obtain a sample of fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium, for analysis or therapeutic purposes. This intervention is typically performed when there is a suspected infection or abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space, a condition called pericardial effusion.
During a cardiocentesis, a healthcare professional inserts a thin, hollow needle through the chest wall and into the pericardial sac under sterile conditions. The needle is guided by imaging techniques such as echocardiography or fluoroscopy to ensure precision and safety. The fluid collected through the needle can then be sent to a laboratory for analysis, including examining its composition, identifying potential pathogens, or assessing for malignancy.
Cardiocentesis can also serve as a therapeutic measure by draining accumulated fluid from the pericardial space, relieving symptoms and allowing the heart to function more effectively. This can be especially critical if the fluid buildup is causing cardiac compression or compromising its ability to pump blood adequately.
While cardiocentesis is generally considered safe and effective, it does carry certain risks, including bleeding, infection, injury to nearby structures, or the rare possibility of puncturing the heart itself. Therefore, it is performed by trained medical professionals and is only indicated in specific clinical situations determined by the patient's medical history, symptoms, and diagnostic test results.
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Operative puncture of the heart.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CARDIOCENTESIS
- xardiocentesis
- vardiocentesis
- fardiocentesis
- dardiocentesis
- czrdiocentesis
- csrdiocentesis
- cwrdiocentesis
- cqrdiocentesis
- caediocentesis
- caddiocentesis
- cafdiocentesis
- catdiocentesis
- ca5diocentesis
- ca4diocentesis
- carsiocentesis
- carxiocentesis
- carciocentesis
- carfiocentesis
- carriocentesis
- careiocentesis
Etymology of CARDIOCENTESIS
The word "cardiocentesis" is derived from two Greek roots: "cardio" and "centesis".
"Cardio" (καρδία) refers to the heart, and it is derived from the Greek word "kardia" meaning "heart".
"Centesis" (κέντησις) refers to a puncture or tapping procedure, typically involving the insertion of a needle or cannula into a body cavity to remove fluid or extract tissue for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It is derived from the Greek word "kentein" meaning "to puncture" or "to prick".
Therefore, "cardiocentesis" combines these two roots to describe a medical procedure involving the puncture of the heart, often used for diagnostic purposes or for fluids extraction from the pericardial sac surrounding the heart.
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