Asystole

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Asystole \A*sys"to*le\, n. [Pref. a- not + systole.] (Physiol.)
     A weakening or cessation of the contractile power of the
     heart.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:



  asystole
       n : absence of systole; failure of the ventricles of the heart
           to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation)
           with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to
           oxygen lack and eventually to death [syn: {cardiac arrest},
            {cardiopulmonary arrest}]