key terms and acronyms: Special Equipment & Patient Care Environment Flashcards
The use of drugs to render the blood sufficiently unable to create a clot or mass to discourage thrombosis
Anticoagulation
Variation from the normal rhythm, especially of the heartbeat.
Arrhythmia
A catheter inserted into an artery and attached to an electronic monitoring system to directly measure arterial blood pressure.
Arterial monitoring line (A line)
A rubber, plastic, metal, or glass tube used to remove or inject fluids into a person.
Catheter
Broken or crushed into small pieces.
Comminuted
A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by excessive concentration of reduced hemoglobin in the blood.
Cyanosis
The diffusion of solute molecules through a semipermeable membrane passing from the side of higher concentration to the side of lower concentration; a method used in cases of defective renal function to remove elements from the blood that are normally excreted in the urine (hemodialysis).
Dialysis
A graphical record of the heart’s electrical action derived by
amplification of the minutely small electrical impulses normally generated by the heart.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
A hollow tube, approximately 10 inches long, with an inflatable cuff near one end that is inserted and positioned in the trachea. After the tube has been positioned, the cuff
is inflated to maintain the tube’s position so the patient can breathe through the tube.
Endotracheal tube (ETT)
Any abnormal, tube-like passage within body tissue, usually between two internal organs or leading from an internal organ to the body surface.
Fistula
A position in which the head of the patient’s bed is raised 18 to 20 inches above level, with the knees flexed.
Fowler position
Pertaining to the stomach and intestines.
Gastrointestinal (GI)
Deficient oxygenation of the blood.
Hypoxemia
Abnormally prolonged and deep breathing.
Hyperventilation
An electronic device designed to automatically control the flow and rate of intravenous fluids into a patient.
Infusion pump (IMED, IVAC)
A system established for reporting the results of blood coagulation or clotting tests.
International Normalized Ratio (INR)
Administration of fluids into a vein through the use of a steel needle or plastic catheter.
Intravenous (IV)
The introduction of a fluid into a person’s vein; nutrients or medications may be supplied intravenously.
Intravenous therapy
The mass of tissues and organs separating the sternum in front and the vertebral column behind, containing the heart and its large vessels, trachea, esophagus, thymus, lymph nodes, and other structures and tissues.
Mediastinum
Voiding of urine.
Micturition
An apparatus designed to observe, report, and measure a given condition or phenomenon
such as blood pressure, heart rate, or respiration rate.
Monitor
Necrosis of the cells of an area of the heart muscle resulting from oxygen deprivation caused by obstruction of the blood supply.
Myocardial infarction (MI)
A plastic tube usually inserted into a nostril and ending in the stomach. It can be used to remove fluid or gas from the stomach, monitor the digestive function of the stomach,
administer medications or nutrients, or obtain specimens of the stomach contents.
Nasogastric (NG) tube
A photoelectrical device that measures oxygen saturation of the blood (also known as a pulse oximeter).
Oximeter
Open, unobstructed, or not closed.
Patent
Accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity resulting in collapse of the lung on the affected side.
Pneumothorax
A passage or anastomosis between two natural vessels, especially between blood vessels
Shunt
An artificial permanent opening, especially in the abdominal wall, that is made in surgical
procedures.
Stoma
Above the pubis
Suprapubic
Very rapid respirations
Tachypnea
A long intravenous tube inserted into a vein (usually the basilic or subclavian vein) and terminating in the pulmonary artery. A monitor attached to the catheter measures the pulmonary artery pressure and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure; it permits evaluation of cardiac function.
Swan-Ganz catheter
A longitudinal assemblage of tissues or organs—especially a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, function, and termination—or several anatomic structures arranged in a series and serving a common function.
Tract
The exertion of a pulling or distracting force to maintain a proper position of bone ends or joints to facilitate the healing process.
Traction
A position in which the patient lies supine with the head lower than the remainder of the body.
Trendelenburg position
An apparatus that allows a patient’s position to be changed from supine to prone and vice versa by one person by maintaining the patient’s position between two frames of the apparatus;
the patient may be turned horizontally or vertically depending on the apparatus used.
Turning frame
A mechanical apparatus designed to intermittently or continuously assist or control pulmonary ventilation (breathing); also referred to as a respirator.
Ventilator
BWICU
: Burn wound intensive care unit
ntravascular pressure measured by a catheter inserted into the pulmonary artery
(Swan-Ganz catheter) to permit indirect measurement of mean left atrial pressure.
Wedge pressure
CCU
Coronary (cardiac) care unit or critical care unit
CSICU
Cardiac surgery intensive care unit
CVICU
Cardiovascular intensive care unit
ER or ED:
Emergency room or emergency department
GICU
Geriatric intensive care unit
ICU
Intensive care unit or intermediate care unit
MICU
: Medical intensive care unit or mobile intensive care unit
MSICU
Medical surgical intensive care unit
Neurological (neuro) intensive care unit or
neonatal intensive care unit
NICU
Open heart recovery unit
OHRU
Overnight intensive recovery
OIR
Postanesthesia care unit
PACU
Pediatric or psychiatric intensive care unit
PICU
Respiratory intensive care unit
RICU
Special care nursery
SCN
Surgical intensive care unit
SICU
Surgical trauma intensive care unit
STICU
Trauma intensive care unit
TICU
Trauma-neuro intensive care unit
TNCC
