A Central Line is a catheter placed into a large central vein to deliver fluids, medications, or obtain measurements. It is a vascular access device and a clinical procedure commonly used in acute care and perioperative medicine. In cardiology, it supports hemodynamic management in conditions like shock and advanced heart failure. It is frequently used in the intensive care unit (ICU), emergency department, operating room, and cardiac catheterization settings.

An Arterial Line is a thin catheter placed into an artery to measure blood pressure continuously. It is a bedside monitoring procedure used in acute care, anesthesia, and critical care medicine. It also allows repeated arterial blood sampling without repeated needle sticks. It is most commonly used in operating rooms, emergency departments, and intensive care units.

Cardiac Output Monitoring is the measurement and trending of how much blood the heart pumps per minute. It is a diagnostic and physiologic assessment used to guide hemodynamic management. It is commonly applied in critical care, anesthesia, emergency medicine, and cardiology. It is most often used when shock, heart failure, or major surgery makes blood flow and oxygen delivery uncertain.

Cardioplegia is a technique used to intentionally and temporarily stop the heart during cardiac surgery. It involves delivering a specialized solution to protect the myocardium (heart muscle) while blood flow is interrupted. Cardioplegia is part of procedural myocardial protection, most commonly during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). It is routinely used in operations such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve surgery.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of temporary life support that oxygenates blood and removes carbon dioxide outside the body. It is a therapy and procedure used in critical care and cardiothoracic practice. ECMO can support the lungs, the heart, or both when conventional treatments are not enough. It is commonly used in intensive care units (ICUs), emergency settings, and perioperative cardiothoracic care.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation is a form of temporary, machine-based support for the heart and/or lungs. It is a therapy and procedure used in critical care, cardiology, and cardiothoracic surgery. It circulates blood outside the body to add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, and in some configurations can also provide circulatory support. It is most commonly used in severe, potentially reversible cardiopulmonary failure when conventional measures are insufficient.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass is a technique that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs during surgery. It is a procedural support system used in cardiothoracic surgery and perioperative critical care. It allows surgeons to operate on a still or bloodless heart while maintaining systemic perfusion and oxygenation. It is commonly used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve surgery, and selected aortic or congenital repairs.

Vasodilators are medications that widen blood vessels by relaxing vascular smooth muscle. They are a therapy used in cardiovascular and critical care medicine. They are commonly used to treat hypertension, angina, heart failure, and some pulmonary vascular disorders. They are also used in acute settings to reduce cardiac workload and improve blood flow.

Vasopressors are medications that raise blood pressure by increasing vascular tone and/or supporting cardiac output. They are a therapy used in acute care medicine, especially critical care, emergency medicine, anesthesia, and cardiology. They are most commonly started when hypotension threatens organ perfusion despite initial resuscitation. They are typically given as continuous intravenous (IV) infusions with close hemodynamic monitoring.

Inotropic Agents are medications that change the force of heart muscle contraction. They are a therapy used in cardiovascular and critical care medicine. They are most often used when cardiac output is inadequate for the body’s needs. They are commonly discussed in acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and perioperative cardiac care.