LAD
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Left anterior descending artery |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical |
LAD has three meanings. The most common are Left anterior descending artery (cardiology) and Left axis deviation (cardiology); it can also stand for Lymphadenopathy.
Meanings of LAD at a glance
| # | LAD stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left anterior descending artery | Medical › Cardiology |
| 2 | Left axis deviation | Medical › Cardiology |
| 3 | Lymphadenopathy | Medical › Patient Assessment |
1. Left anterior descending artery
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Coronary artery running down the front of the heart in the groove between the ventricles, supplying the anterior wall, much of the septum and the apex. It feeds more heart muscle than any other single branch, so its blockage causes the largest heart attacks.
Example: Proximal LAD 95% stenosis; one drug-eluting stent placed with TIMI 3 flow.
Blockage of the proximal LAD is nicknamed the "widowmaker" because of its high mortality. Its branches are the diagonals (D1, D2) to the anterolateral wall and septal perforators to the septum. The left internal mammary artery is the preferred bypass graft to the LAD. Anatomists also call it the anterior interventricular artery.
2. Left axis deviation
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
ECG finding in which the mean electrical axis of the QRS lies between -30 and -90 degrees, recognized by a positive QRS in lead I and a negative QRS in leads II and aVF. Common causes include left anterior fascicular block, inferior myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy and LBBB.
Example: ECG: sinus rhythm with LAD, likely LAFB; no acute changes.
Mild leftward shift can be normal in older adults and with obesity or pregnancy, as a raised diaphragm turns the heart horizontally. An extreme axis, between -90 and 180 degrees, raises suspicion of ventricular tachycardia or misplaced leads. Because LAD also names the left anterior descending artery, check whether a note describes an ECG or an angiogram.
3. Lymphadenopathy
Medical · Patient Assessment Abbreviations
Enlarged or abnormal lymph nodes found on examination or imaging, described by location, size, tenderness and consistency. It may reflect infection, inflammation or cancer.
Example: Tender anterior cervical LAD, tonsillar exudate, fever 38.7.
Tender, mobile nodes favor infection, while hard, fixed or painless nodes raise concern for malignancy. In cardiology LAD means the left anterior descending coronary artery, and on an ECG it means left axis deviation, so meaning depends on the section of the note.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- JVP – Jugular venous pressure
- LA – Left atrium
- LAA – Left atrial appendage
- LAAO – Left atrial appendage occlusion
- LAE – Left atrial enlargement
- LAFB – Left anterior fascicular block
- LBBB – Left bundle branch block
- LCx – Left circumflex artery
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
More patient assessment abbreviations
- HC – Head circumference
- HEENT – Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat
- HR – Heart rate
- Ht – Height
- LLE – Left lower extremity
- LOC – Level of consciousness
- LUE – Left upper extremity
- MAE – Moves all extremities
See all 65 patient assessment abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.