Abbreviations

Question 1

ABG

Answer 1

Arterial Blood Gas

A test that measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood from an artery and blood’s pH balance.

Question 2

ARDS

Answer 2

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

A life threatening lung injury that allows fluid to leak into the lungs.

Breathing becomes difficult and oxygen cannot get into the lungs.

Question 3

CO2

Answer 3

Carbon Dioxide

A clear gas expelled from the lungs.

Question 4

COPD

Answer 4

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A common lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems.

Question 5

CPAP

Answer 5

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

A type of positive airway pressure where the air flow is introduced into the airways to maintain a continuous pressure to constantly stent the airways open, in people whore are breathing spontaneously.

Ex. Chronic Bronchitis and emphysema.

Question 6

CPR

Answer 6

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Emergency life saving procedure that is done when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

CPR combines rescue breathing and chest compressions.

Question 7

CXR

Answer 7

Chest X Ray

Imaging test that uses X rays to look at structures and organs in the chest.

Film or Image.

Question 8

O2

Answer 8

Oxygen

Gas that enters the bloodstream through the lungs.

Question 9

MDI

Answer 9

Metered Does Inhalers

Delivers specific amount of medication to the lungs.

Question 10

PE

Answer 10

Pulmonary Embolism

Blockage of vessels in the lung by a blood clot;

Sudden blockage in the pulmonary arteries, the blood vessels that send blood to the lungs.

It usually happens when a blood clot in the deep veins in the leg breaks off and travels to the lungs.

Question 11

PEEP

Answer 11

Positive End Expiratory Pressure

Method of mechanical ventilation.

Positive pressure that will remain in the airways at the end of the respiratory cycle (end of exhalation) that is greater than the atmospheric pressure in mechanically ventilated patients.

To recruit or stabilize lung units and improve oxygenation in patients who have hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Question 12

PFT

Answer 12

Pulmonary Function Test

Measurement of the breathing capability of the lung.

Question 13

SOB

Answer 13

Shortness of Breath

Medically known as dyspnea.

Described as intense tightening in the chest, air hunger, difficulty breathing, breathlessness or a feeling of suffocation.

Question 14

URI

Answer 14

Upper Respiratory Infection

Symptoms include coughing, runny nose, sneezing and throat pain.

Question 15

VATS

Answer 15

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Uses small incisions and an endoscope.

Question 16

VQ

Answer 16

Ventilation Perfusion Scan

Made up of two scans that examine air flow and blood flow in the lungs.

Question 17

AFB

Answer 17

Acid Fast Bacillus

Group of bacteria sharing the characteristic of acid fastness.

Acid fatness is a physical property that gives a bacterium the ability to resist decolorization by acids during staining procedures.

Question 18

CF

Answer 18

Cystic Fibrosis

A disorder that damages the lungs, digestive tract and other organs.

Inherited disease caused by defective gene that can be passed from generation to generation.

Question 19

Bronch

Answer 19

Bronchoscopy

A technique used to look at the air passages with a small camera that is located at the end of a flexible tube.

Question 20

C & S

Answer 20

Culture and Sensitivity

A culture is a test to find germs that can cause infection.

Checks to see what kind of medicine will work best to trat illness or infection.

Question 21

NEB

Answer 21

Nebulizer

A device for producing a fine spray of liquid, used for example for inhaling a medicinal drug.

Question 22

RT

Answer 22

Respiratory Therapist

Assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary disorders.