EECP is most appropriate for people who are
not receiving adequate relief from medications
and would benefit from CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS
GRAFT (CABG) but cannot, or choose not, to
undergo the surgery. EECP is not appropriate for
people who have uncontrolled HYPERTENSION or
ARRHYTHMIAor who have bleeding disorders. There
are no identified risks associated with EECP. Some
people do find the pressure of the counterpulsa-
tions somewhat uncomfortable.
See also ANGIOPLASTY; MEDICATIONS TO TREAT CAR-
DIOVASCULAR DISEASE.
fibroelastoma A noncancerous, connective tis-
sue tumor that arises from the ENDOCARDIUM, usu-
ally on or near a HEARTvalve. Also called cardiac
papillary fibroelastoma, this rare tumor can
become serious or life threatening when it inter-
feres with the function of a heart valve. Fibroelas-
tomas most commonly form on or near the aortic
valve or the tricuspid valve. They may become
large enough to prevent the valve’s proper func-
tion or to block the flow of BLOODthrough the
valve. A fibroelastoma may also create turbulence
in the heart, allowing blood to pool and clot. Gen-
erally fibroelestomas cause no symptoms and car-
diologists may detect them incidentally during
echocardiogram for other purposes. Because fibro-
elastomas pose such a significant risk for clotting
and STROKE, cardiologists typically recommend sur-
gery to remove them. Cardiologists do not know
what causes fibroelastomas, though there is some
debate whether they are congenital or acquired.
See also ANTICOAGULATION THERAPY; OPEN HEART
SURGERY; SURGERY BENEFIT AND RISK ASSESSMENT;
VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.gallop A pair of extra HEART SOUNDSthe cardiolo-
gist can hear with the bell of the STETHOSCOPEdur-
ing diastole, so-named because they occur in rapid
succession and sound like the hooves of a gallop-
ing horse. The characteristic sound is that of a
deep-toned thud. A gallop often exists with tachy-
cardia (rapid, regular HEART RATE) and generally
signals ventricular dysfunction such as might fol-
low HEART ATTACK.
See also ARRHYTHMIA.gallop 55