823 articles
Vertebral venous plexuses
The vertebral venous plexuses, known as the Batson plexus after Oscar V. Batson, are valveless extradural veins around the spinal column that drain the spinal cord and vertebrae.
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI), transient ischemia of the vertebrobasilar posterior brain circulation, coined by Milliken and Siekert in 1955; causes dizziness, vertigo, diplopia, ataxia; mainly atherosclerotic; diagnosed by angiography, MRA, CTA, Doppler.
Victor Chang
Victor Chang (Chang Yam Him, 1936–1991), Chinese-Australian cardiac surgeon who founded Australia's National Heart Transplant Program at St Vincent's Hospital, performed Fiona Coote's 1984 transplant, designed the low-cost St Vincent's Heart Valve, and was murdered in Sydney in 1991.
VICTORIA trial
VICTORIA (NCT02861534) was a phase 3 trial of vericiguat in 5,050 high-risk HFrEF patients, showing HR 0.90 for cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization versus placebo.
Vitelline veins
Vitelline veins, or omphalomesenteric veins, are paired embryonic veins from the yolk sac to the sinus venosus; their selective involution forms the portal vein, splenic and mesenteric veins, and part of the inferior vena cava.
Vladimir Demikhov (Владимир Петрович Демихов)
Vladimir Petrovich Demikhov (Владимир Петрович Демихов, 1916–1998), Soviet experimental surgeon, pioneer of organ transplantology; first intrathoracic heart, lung, and heart-lung transplants in dogs, first mechanical heart, and the two-headed dog experiments.
Volume expander
Volume expander: intravenous crystalloid or colloid fluids (albumin, gelatin, dextran, hydroxyethyl starch) used to restore intravascular volume in hypovolemia and shock; colloids expand more per liter but HES is now EU-suspended and FDA-boxed-warned.
VOYAGER PAD trial
VOYAGER PAD (NCT02504216) was a phase 3 trial of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin versus aspirin alone after lower-extremity revascularization in 6,564 PAD patients, reducing the composite limb and cardiovascular endpoint (HR 0.85) without significant TIMI major bleeding excess.
Wellens' syndrome
Wellens' syndrome (LAD coronary T-wave syndrome): pain-free ECG pattern of biphasic or deeply inverted precordial T waves (V2-V3) signaling critical proximal left anterior descending stenosis; first described 1982; high specificity, low sensitivity; needs urgent PCI, not stress testing.
White pulp
White pulp, also called the Malpighian body of the spleen, is the lymphoid tissue surrounding the central arteries where adaptive immune responses to blood-borne antigens are initiated.
William Harvey
William Harvey (1578–1657), English physician and anatomist, demonstrated the circulation of the blood in De Motu Cordis (Frankfurt, 1628) using ligature experiments, venous valves, and a quantitative flow argument, overturning Galenic physiology.
Women's Health Initiative
Women's Health Initiative (WHI), NHLBI-sponsored US study launched 1991: 161,808 postmenopausal women at 40 centers in three randomized trials (hormone therapy, low-fat diet, calcium/vitamin D) plus an observational study; 2002 hormone results reshaped menopause care.
Yellow nail syndrome
Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare triad of slow-growing yellow dystrophic nails, lymphedema, and respiratory disease, first described by Samman and White in 1964; two of three features suffice for diagnosis, and treatment is symptomatic.