Anaesthesia and Analgesia - Glossary

Question 1

Anaesthesia

Answer 1

loss of feeling or sensation in a part or the whole of the body; usually drug induced.

Question 2

Analgesia

Answer 2

the relief of pain without causing unconsciousness

Question 3

Anticholinergic

Answer 3

a drug that inhibits the action of acetylcholine

Question 4

Apnoea

Answer 4

cessation of respiration

Question 5

Arrythmia

Answer 5

variation from the normal rhythm of the heart.

Question 6

Ataractic

Answer 6

a tranquilliser

Question 7

Auscultation

Answer 7

examination of the internal organs by listening to their sound.

Question 8

Basal narcosis

Answer 8

a state of unconsciousness produced prior to surgical anaesthesia.

Question 9

Blood brain barrier

Answer 9

the membranous barrier that separates blood from the brain; it is permeable to water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose, alcohol, general anaesthetics and some drugs.

Question 10

Bradycardia

Answer 10

abnormally low heart rate

Question 11

Bradypnoea

Answer 11

abnormally low respiratory rate.

Question 12

Cardiac tamponade

Answer 12

impairment of the heart function by haemorrhage or effusion into the pericardium.

Question 13

Cyanosis

Answer 13

blue-grey mucous membranes; a sign of inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

Question 14

Defibrillation

Answer 14

the restoration of normal heart rhythm in ventricular or atrial fibrillation.

Question 15

Defibrillator

Answer 15

an instrument which restores normal heart rhythm by the application of a high voltage electric current.

Question 16

Diuresis

Answer 16

increased excretion of urine.

Question 17

Dyspnoea

Answer 17

laboured breathing

Question 18

Dysrhythmia

Answer 18

disturbance of a regularly occurring pattern

Question 19

Epidural

Answer 19

outside the dura mater. Epidural analgesia is a form of pain relief obtained by the injection of a local analgesic into the epidural space in order to block the spinal nerves

Question 20

Hypercapnia/hypercarbia

Answer 20

excess blood carbon dioxide

Question 21

Hyperpnoea

Answer 21

hyperventilation.

Question 22

Hypertension

Answer 22

persistently high blood pressure.

Question 23

Hypotension

Answer 23

persistently low blood pressure

Question 24

Hypoventilation

Answer 24

shallow breathing at a very slow rate which may cause a build up of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Question 25

Hypoxia

Answer 25

inadequate oxygen in the tissues

Question 26

Laryngospasm

Answer 26

a reflex prolonged contraction of the laryngeal muscles; this may be associated with the clumsy passing of endotracheal tubes

Question 27

Narcotic

Answer 27

a drug that produces narcosis (unnatural sleep)

Question 28

Neurolept

Answer 28

a drug which acts upon the nervous system

Question 29

Poikilothermic

Answer 29

describes an animal which is unable to control its body temperature such as neonates and reptiles

Question 30

Premedicant

Answer 30

drug/s given preoperatively in order to reduce fear and anxiety and to facilitate the induction, maintenance and recovery of anaesthesia.

Question 31

Pulse deficit

Answer 31

 a sign of atrial fibrillation; the pulse rate is slower than the apex beat.

Question 32

Sedative

Answer 32

a sleep inducing drug; used to lessen excitement and reduce tension.

Question 33

Soporific

Answer 33

sleep inducing

Question 34

Syncope

Answer 34

fainting

Question 35

Tachycardia

Answer 35

 a higher than normal heart rate

Question 36

Tachypnoea

Answer 36

 a higher than normal respiratory rate

Question 37

Tracheostomy

Answer 37

a permanent or long term surgical opening into the trachea

Question 38

Tracheotomy 

Answer 38

a temporary opening into the trachea.

Question 39

Tranquilliser 

Answer 39

a drug that allays fear and anxiety without inducing sleep