PREEXCITATION Meaning and
Definition
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Preexcitation is a medical term used to describe a specific abnormal conduction pathway of the electrical signals in the heart. It refers to the presence of an extra electrical pathway, known as an accessory pathway, that allows electrical impulses to bypass the normal electrical conduction system of the heart.
In a healthy heart, electrical impulses are generated in the sinoatrial (SA) node, travel through the atria, reach the atrioventricular (AV) node, and then proceed to the ventricles, which contract and pump blood to the rest of the body. However, in individuals with preexcitation, an additional pathway exists, called the accessory pathway, that allows electrical impulses to bypass the AV node and travel directly to the ventricles.
This abnormal pathway can cause the ventricles to become prematurely and excessively stimulated, leading to a rapid heart rate and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, such as atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). Symptoms of preexcitation can include palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and even loss of consciousness.
Preexcitation is typically diagnosed through an electrocardiogram (ECG) that shows characteristic findings, such as a short PR interval and a characteristic pattern known as a delta wave. Treatment for preexcitation focuses on reducing the risk of arrhythmias and managing symptoms. This may involve the use of medications to control heart rate, ablation procedures to eliminate the accessory pathway, or, in rare cases, the placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to monitor and treat life-threatening arrhythmias.
Common Misspellings for PREEXCITATION
- oreexcitation
- lreexcitation
- 0reexcitation
- peeexcitation
- pdeexcitation
- pfeexcitation
- pteexcitation
- p5eexcitation
- p4eexcitation
- prwexcitation
- prsexcitation
- prdexcitation
- prrexcitation
- pr4excitation
- pr3excitation
- prewxcitation
- presxcitation
- predxcitation
- prerxcitation
- pre4xcitation
Etymology of PREEXCITATION
The word preexcitation is derived from the combination of two root words: pre- and excitation.
1. Pre- is a prefix derived from Latin and means before or prior to. It is commonly used to indicate something that is happening in advance or before the main event or action.
2. Excitation is derived from the Latin word excitare, which means to agitate or to arouse. In this context, it refers to the stimulation or activation of a particular system or process.
When these two root words are combined, preexcitation refers to a state or condition of being stimulated or excited before the expected or usual time. In specific medical contexts, preexcitation is often used to describe an abnormal electrical conduction pathway in the heart known as the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
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