Chapter 40 Flashcards
12-lead ECG
An ECG that uses 12 leads attached to the patient’s skin; these include the limb leads and chest leads.
4-lead ECG
An ECG that uses 4 leads attached to the patient’s skin; these include the limb leads.
access port
A sealed hub on an administration set designed for sterile access to the intravenous fluid.
arrhythmia
An abnormal rhythm of the heart, sometimes called an arrhythmia.
asystole
The complete absence of any electrical cardiac activity, appearing as a straight or almost straight line on an ECG strip.
cardiac monitoring
The act of viewing the electrical activity of the heart through the use of an ECG machine or cardiac monitor.
catheter
A flexible, hollow structure that drains or delivers fluids.
catheter shear
The cutting of the catheter by the needle during improper rethreading of the catheter with the needle; the severed piece can then enter the circulatory system.
chest leads
The leads that are used only with a 12-lead ECG and must be placed exactly; includes leads V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.
Combitube
A multilumen airway device that consists of a single tube with two lumens, two balloons, and two ventilation ports; an alternative airway device if endotracheal intubation is not possible or has failed.
drip chamber
The area of the administration set where fluid accumulates so that the tubing remains filled with fluid.
drip sets
Another name for administration sets.
ECG
Electrocardiogram; an electronic tracing of the heart’s electrical activity through leads, which originate in the electrograph machine and contain electrodes that attach to the patient’s chest and/or limbs.
electrical conduction system
A network of special cells in the heart through which an electrical current flows, causing contractions of the heart that produce pumping of blood.
endotracheal intubation
Insertion of an endotracheal tube directly through the larynx between the vocal cords and into the trachea to maintain and protect an airway.
end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors
Plastic, disposable indicators that signal by color change when an endotracheal tube is in the proper place.
external jugular IV
IV access established in the external jugular vein of the neck.
extubation
Removal of a tube after it has been placed.
gastric tube
An advanced airway adjunct that provides a channel directly into a patient’s stomach, allowing for removal of gas, blood, and toxins and for instilling medications and nutrition.
gauge
A measure of the interior diameter of the cathether. It is inversely proportional to the true diameter of the catheter.
infiltration
The escape of fluid into the surrounding tissue when the IV catheter is not in the vein.
intraossious (IO) needles
Rigid, boring catheters placed into a bone to provide intravenous fluids.
isotonic crystalloids
Intravenous solutions that do not cause a fluid shift into or out of the cell; examples include normal saline and lactated Ringer’s solutions.
King LT
A disposal supraglottic airway used as an alternative to tracheal or mask ventilation.
laryngeal mask airway
An advanced airway device that is blindly inserted into the mouth to isolate the larynx for direct ventilation; consists of a tube and a mask or cuff that inflates to seal around the laryngeal opening.
laryngoscope
An instrument used to give a direct view of the patient’s vocal cords during endotracheal intubation.
limb leads
The four leads used with a 4-lead ECG; placed on or close to the right arm, left arm, right leg, and left leg.
macrodrip set
An administration set named for the large orifice between the piercing spike and the drip chamber; allows for rapid fluid flow into the vascular system.
microdrip set
An administration set named for the small orifice between the piercing spike and the drip chamber; allows for carefully controlled fluid flow and is ideally suited for medication administration.
multilumen airways
Advanced airway devices, such as the esophageal tracheal Combitube and the pharyngeotracheal lumen airway, that have multiple tubes to aid in ventilation and will work whether placed in the trachea or esophagus.
normal sinus rhythm
A rhythm that has consistent P waves, consistent P-R intervals, and a regular heart rate of between 60 and 100 beats/minute.
occlusion
Blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel.
orotracheal intubation
Endotracheal intubation through the mouth.
pharyngeotracheal lumen airway
A multilumen airway that consists of two tubes, two masks, and a bite block.
phlebitis
Inflammation of a vein; often associated with a clot in the vein.
piercing spike
The hard, sharpened plastic spike on the end of the administration set designed to pierce the sterile membrane of the intravenous bag.
proximal tibia
Anatomic location for intraosseous catheter insertion; the wide portion of the tibia located directly below the knee.
saline locks (buff caps)
Special types of intravenous apparatus, also called heparin caps and heparin locks.
sinus bradycardia
A rhythm that has consistent P waves, consistent P-R intervals, and a regular heart rate that is less than 60 beats/minute.
sinus rhythm
A rhythm in which the sinoatrial node acts as the pacemaker.
sinus tachycardia
A rhythm that has consistent P waves, consistent P-R intervals and a regular heart rate that is more than 100 beats/minute.
STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction)
Elevation of the ST segment of the 12-lead EKG that is likely evidence that the patient is having a heart attack.
stylet
A plastic-coated wire that gives added rigidity and shape to the endotracheal tube.
systemic complication
A moderate to severe complication affecting the systems of the body; after administration of medications, the reaction might be systemic.
ventricular fibrillation
A rapid, completely disorganized ventricular rhythm with chaotic characteristics, no specific pattern, and no discernible P, QRS, or T waves.
ventricular tachycardia
The presence of three or more abnormal ventricular complexes in a row with a rate of more than 100 beats/minute.
