Chapter 12. Respiratory System - Abbreviations

Question 1

ABGS

Answer 1

arterial blood gases

Question 2

AFB

Answer 2

acid-fast bacillus - the type of organism that causes tuberculosis

Question 3

ARDS

Answer 3

acute respiratory distress syndrome - a group of signs and symptoms including tachypnea, dyspnea, tachycardia, hypoxemia, and cyanosis associated with acute respiratory failure

Question 4

BAL

Answer 4

bronchioalveolar lavage

Question 5

Bronch

Answer 5

bronchoscopy

Question 6

CF

Answer 6

cystic fibrosis

Question 7

CO2

Answer 7

carbon dioxide

Question 8

COPD

Answer 8

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - airway obstruction associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Question 9

CPAP

Answer 9

continuous positive airway pressure

Question 10

CPR

Answer 10

cardiopulmonary resuscitation - three basic steps (ABC): a, airway opened by tilting the head; b, breathing restored by mouth-to-mouth breathing; c, circulation restored by external cardiac compression

Question 11

C&S

Answer 11

culture and sensitivity testing (of sputum)

Question 12

CTPA

Answer 12

computed tomography pulmonary angiography

Question 13

CXR

Answer 13

chest x-ray (film)

Question 14

DLco

Answer 14

diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide

Question 15

DOE

Answer 15

dyspnea on exertion

Question 16

DPT

Answer 16

diptheria, pertussis, tetanus - toxoids for vaccination of infants, to provide immunity to these diseases

Question 17

FEV1

Answer 17

forced expiratory volume in 1 second

Question 18

FVC

Answer 18

forced vital capacity - amount of gas that can be forcibly and rapidly exhaled after a full inspiration

Question 19

HCO3

Answer 19

bicarbonate - measured in blood to determine acidity or alkalinity

Question 20

ICU

Answer 20

intensive care unit

Question 21

LLL

Answer 21

left lower lobe (of lung)

Question 22

LUL

Answer 22

left upper lobe (of lung)

Question 23

MDI

Answer 23

metered-dose inhaler - used to deliver aerosolized medications to patients

Question 24

NSCLC

Answer 24

non-small cell lung cancer

Question 25

O2

Answer 25

oxygen

Question 26

OSA

Answer 26

obstructive sleep apnea

Question 27

Paco2

Answer 27

carbon dioxide partial pressure - a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood

Question 28

Pao2

Answer 28

oxygen partial pressure - a measure of the amount of oxygen in arterial blood

Question 29

PCP

Answer 29

pneumocystis pneumonia - a type of pneumonia seen in patients with AIDS or other immunosuppression

Question 30

PE

Answer 30

pulmonary embolism

Question 31

PEP

Answer 31

positive expiratory pressure - mechanical ventilator strategy in which patient takes a deep breath and then exhales through a device that resists air flow (helps refill underventilated areas of the lung)

Question 32

PEEP

Answer 32

positive end-expiratory pressure - common mechanical ventilator setting in which airway pressure is maintained above atmospheric pressure

Question 33

PFTs

Answer 33

pulmonary function tests

Question 34

PND

Answer 34

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Question 35

PPD

Answer 35

purified protein derivative - substance used in a tuberculosis test

Question 36

RDS

Answer 36

respiratory distress syndrome - in the newborn infant, condition marked by dyspnea and cyanosis and related to absence of surfactant, a substance that permits normal expansion of lungs; also called hyaline membrane disease

Question 37

RLL

Answer 37

right lower lobe (of lung)

Question 38

RSV

Answer 38

respiratory syncytial virus - common cause of bronchiolitis, broncho-pneumonia, and the common cold, especially in children (in tissue culture, forms syncytia or giant cells, so that cytoplasm flows together)

Question 39

RUL

Answer 39

right upper lobe (of lung)

Question 40

RV

Answer 40

residual volume - amount of air remaining in lungs at the end of maximal expiration

Question 41

SCLC

Answer 41

small lung cell cancer

Question 42

SOB

Answer 42

shortness of breath

Question 43

TB

Answer 43

tuberculosis

Question 44

TLC

Answer 44

total lung capacity - volume of gas in the lungs at the end of maximal inspiration; equals VC plus RV

Question 45

URI

Answer 45

upper respiratory infection

Question 46

Vt

Answer 46

tidal volume - amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a normal ventilation

Question 47

VATS

Answer 47

video-assisted thoracic surgery (thoracoscopy)

Question 48

VC

Answer 48

vital capacity - equals inspiratory reserve volume plus expiratory reserve volume plus tidal volume

Question 49

V/Q scan

Answer 49

ventilation-perfusion scan - radioactive test of lung ventilation and blood perfusion throughout the lung capillaries (lung scan)