Nursing 200 Foundations > Quiz 6 Acronyms > Flashcards
Quiz 6 Acronyms Flashcards
MAP
Mean arterial pressure
MAR
Medication administration record
mcg
Microgram
MDI
Metered-dose inhaler
mEQ
milliequivalent(s)
mg
Milligram
MI
Myocardial infarction
MICU
Medical intensive care unit
mL
Milliliter
mmol
millimole(s)
MMR
Measles, mumps, rubella
MOM
milk of magnesia
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MS
Mental status, multiple sclerosis, mitral stenosis
MVA
Motor vehicle accident
MVR
Mitral valve repair/replacement
Na
Sodium
NAD
No acute distress
neg/-
Negative
NG
Nasogastric
NICU
Neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type II)
NKA
No known allergies
NPO
Nothing by mouth
NS
Normal saline
NSAID
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSR
Normal sinus rhythm
NTG
Nitroglycerin
N/V
Nausea, vomiting
NVD
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
NWB
non-weight bearing
Atelectasis
Collapsed alveoli, caused by a blockage of the air passages (bronchus or bronchioles) or by pressure on the lung. Risk factors for atelectasis include anesthesia, prolonged bed rest with few changes in position, shallow breathing and underlying lung disease. Mucus that plugs the airway, foreign objects in the airway (common in children) and tumors that obstruct the airway may lead to atelectasis. Large-scale atelectasis may be life threatening, especially in someone who has another lung disease or illness. In a baby or small child, lung collapse due to a mucus obstruction or other causes can be life threatening.
- Symptoms: Breathing difficulty, Chest pain, Cough
- Diagnosis: Exams and tests include chest X-ray and bronchoscopy. The goal of treatment is to remove lung secretions and re-expand the affected lung tissue. Treatments include: Aerosolized respiratory treatments to open the airway. Positioning the body on the unaffected side to allow the lung to re-expand. Removing obstructions by bronchoscopy. Breathing exercises (incentive spirometry). Clap, or percussion, on the chest to loosen mucus. Tilting the body (postural drainage) so that the head is lower than the chest to drain mucus. Treating a tumor or underlying condition, if present.
Biot’s respirations
Seen in patient in brain damage: stroke, infection, trauma. Shallow breaths interrupted by apnea as respiratory center is inhibited and Co2 build up as it became toxic in body, bunch of signals will send to accessory muscles and cause hyperventilating, as time goes, CO2 level decrease and cause apnea. Biot’s breathing’ is a term rarely used today that describes an abnormal respiration pattern. Biot’s breathing occurs when periods of apnoea alternate irregularly with series of breaths of equal depth that terminate abruptly, and is associated with meningitis. Unlike Cheyne-Stokes respiration, it does not involve cycles of deep breathing or gradual changes in breathing patterns.
Cheyne-stokes respirations
Marked rhythmic waxing and waning of respirations, from very shallow to very deep, with short periods of apnea. Followed by apnea, gradual increase, gradual decrease and then apnea caused by disturbance of blood flow which causes disruption in respiration centers.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration is a type of breathing disorder characterized by cyclical episodes of apnea and hyperventilation. Although described in the early 19th century by John Cheyne and William Stokes, this disorder has received considerable attention in the last decade due to its association with heart failure and stroke, two major causes of mortality, and morbidity in developed countries. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can be the cause of heart failure, Cheyne-Stokes respiration is believed to be a result of heart failure. The presence of Cheyne-Stokes respiration in patients with heart failure also predicts worse outcomes and increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. Despite increasing recognition and growing knowledge, Cheyne-Stokes respiration remains elusive, and patients have very limited treatment options
Diffusion
Happens due to concentration gradient (high to low). During gas exchange oxygen moves from the lungs to the bloodstream. At the same time carbon dioxide passes from the blood to the lungs.
Dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing, shortness of breath
Emphysema
a type of lung disease that causes breathlessness. Emphysema is usually caused by cigarette smoking. There is no cure, but the condition can be managed using medications and adjustments to lifestyle.
Oxygen concentrations play a major role in regulating respiration; decreased oxygen concentrations are the main stimuli for receptors because the increased carbon dioxide levels desensitize the central chemoreceptors.
Hypercabia
Hypercarbia is defined by an increase in carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Though there are multiple causes for hypercarbia, the body is usually able to compensate if the respiratory drive and lung function are not compromised. When this compensation is inadequate, respiratory acidosis results.[1] Many patients with chronic hypercarbia from lung disease and normal renal function will retain higher levels of bicarbonate to maintain pH balance.[2] Hypercarbia is often used interchangeably with the term hypercapnia.
Intrapleural pressure
Pressure in the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs.
Intrapulmonary pressure
Pressure within the lungs
Hypoxemia
Low levels of oxygen in the blood. Classic causes of hypoxia include hypoventilation, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, the low oxygen content in the air, right to left shunting, or impaired diffusion.
Hypoxia
Insufficient oxygen anywhere in the body. Hypoxia is a state in which oxygen is not available in sufficient amounts at the tissue level to maintain adequate homeostasis; this can result from inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues either due to low blood supply or low oxygen content in the blood
Kussmaul’s breathing
Kussmaul breathing is an abnormal breathing pattern characterized by rapid, deep breathing at a consistent pace. It’s a sign of a medical emergency — usually diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), which can affect people with diabetes and people with undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. Kussmaul breathing doesn’t alternate between fast and slow breathing or cause breathing to stop like Cheyne Stokes does. The body’s attempts to compensate for increased metabolic acidosis by blowing of acid in form of C02.
Lung compliance
Lung compliance affects the ability of the lungs to expand during inspiration. The less compliant the tissue, the more “stiff” or resistant to expansion it will be. Anyone who has attempted to blow up a balloon has experienced this concept.
Orthopnea
Inability to breathe easily unless sitting upright. Treating the underlying condition, using oxygen, taking medication or repositioning helps.
Postural drainage
a technique that involves laying/ sitting in certain positions to drain secretions from your airways using gravity. Depending on the areas of your lungs most affected by secretions, there will be certain positions that will work best in maximising the benefit of your airway clearance. Postural drainage uses gravity to move mucus out of your lungs. There’s some debate over its effectiveness for treating symptoms of cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and bronchiectasis. However, there aren’t any serious risks associated with it, so it may be worth a try if you need to loosen up mucus in your lungs: Lie on a slanted surface with your chest lower than your hips. Place a small pillow under your head. Put 2 pillows under your bent knees. Rest your arms at your sides and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Stridor
Harsh, high-pitched sound during inspiration produced by irregular airflow in a narrowed airway. This condition indicates significant upper airway obstruction and is usually most prominent during the inspiration phase. Identifying the underlying disease process is crucial in managing stridor symptoms.
Pleural effusion
which some people call “water on the lungs,” is the buildup of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside your lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line your lungs and the inside of your chest cavity.
Normally, everyone has a small amount of fluid in their pleura. This fluid acts as a natural lubricant and makes it easier for your lungs to move when you breathe. But with pleural effusion, you have too much fluid around your lungs. This means your body is producing too much of the fluid or not absorbing enough of the fluid it makes.
Abdominal paracentesis
Procedure during which ascites is removed
for laboratory study from the abdominal
cavity to relieve pressure or obtain a fluid
specimen
a safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used in the evaluation of a variety of abdominal problems, including ascites, abdominal injury, acute abdomen, and peritonitis. Ascites may be recognized on physical examination as abdominal distention and the presence of a fluid wave. Therapeutic paracentesis is employed to relieve respiratory difficulty due to increased intra-abdominal pressure caused by ascites.
Angiography
A radiopaque dye is injected into the vessels to be examined, and flow through the vessels is assessed and areas of narrowing or blockage can be observed
type of X-ray used to check blood vessels. Blood vessels do not show clearly on a normal X-ray, so a special dye called a contrast agent needs to be injected into your blood first. This highlights your blood vessels, allowing your doctor to see any problems.
Ascites
Ascites is a condition in which fluid collects in spaces within your abdomen. If severe, ascites may be painful. The problem may keep you from moving around comfortably. Ascites can set the stage for an infection in your abdomen. Fluid may also move into your chest and surround your lungs.
Ascites results from high pressure in certain veins of the liver (portal hypertension) and low blood levels of a protein called albumin. Diseases that can cause severe liver damage can lead to ascites. These include: Chronic hepatitis C or B infection.
Colonoscopy
Viewing of the large intestine - an exam used to look for changes — such as swollen, irritated tissues, polyps or cancer — in the large intestine (colon) and rectum. During a colonoscopy, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum.
Complete blood count
The CBC blood test identifies and counts the 7 types of cells found in the blood, red blood cell, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet. It looks for abnormalities in your blood, such as unusually high or low numbers of blood cells. This common blood test can help to diagnose a wide range of illnesses, infections and diseases. Your doctor may arrange further tests to help determine the cause of the abnormality.
Computed tomography
A painless, noninvasive x—ray procedure that produces a three-dimensional image of
Cystoscopy
Procedure during which the bladder, ureteral orifices, and urethra can be directly visualized
Enchocardiogram
A noninvasive test that uses ultrasound to visualize structures of the heart and evaluate left ventricular function
Expectorate
to eject or expel matter, as phlegm, from the throat or lungs by coughing or hawking and spitting; spit.
HbA1c (hemoglobin A1C)
Measurement of blood glucose that is bound to hemoglobin; is a reflection of how well blood glucose levels have been controlled during the prior 3 to 4 months
Hemoglobin
a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from your organs and tissues back to your lungs. If a hemoglobin test reveals that your hemoglobin level is lower than normal, it means you have a low red blood cell count (anemia).
Hematocrit
the percentage by volume of red cells in your blood.
- When the hematocrit value is low, the proportion of red blood cells in the blood is lower than usual. This can indicate: The blood has too few healthy red blood cells. This condition is called anemia that the body does not have enough vitamins or minerals. Recent or long-term blood loss.
- When the hematocrit value is high, the proportion of red blood cells in the blood is higher than normal. This can indicate: Dehydration, A disorder that causes your body to produce too many red blood cells, such as polycythemia vera. Lung or heart disease. Living at a high altitude, such as on a mountain.
Guaiac test
A test that checks for occult (hidden) blood in the stool. Small samples of stool are placed on special cards coated with a chemical substance called guaiac and sent to a doctor or laboratory for testing. Positive results may be due to problems that cause bleeding in the stomach or intestinal tract, including: Colon cancer or other gastrointestinal tumors. Colon polyps. Bleeding veins in the esophagus or stomach (esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy)
Hemoptysis
Hemoptysis is when you cough up blood from your lungs. It can be a sign of a serious medical condition. Infections, lung cancer, and problems in blood vessels in your lungs can cause it. Unless you have bronchitis, you need to see a doctor if you’re coughing up blood.
Lumbar puncture
A procedure performed to obtain a specimen of cerebrospinal fluid through a needle inserted into the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal
Magnetic resonance imaging
Noninvasive diagnostic scanning technique in which the client is placed in a magnetic field
Polycythemia
blood disorder occurring when there are too many red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs through the blood stream to the rest of the body. The excess red blood cells cause the blood to increase in volume and thicken, keeping it from flowing easily.
Peak level
Indicates the highest concentration of a drug in the blood serum
Occult blood
Hidden blood; a test performed on stool
Serum osmolality
A measure of the solute concentration of the blood used to evaluate fluid balance
Steatorrhea
excessive amounts of fat in your poop. Fatty poops are different from normal poops. They tend to be looser, smellier and paler in color, like clay. They might float. You might have an occasional fatty poop after eating a fatty meal or malabsorption.
Thoracentesis
procedure to remove fluid or air from around the lungs. A needle is put through the chest wall into the pleural space. The pleural space is the thin gap between the pleura of the lung and of the inner chest wall. The pleura is a double layer of membranes that surrounds the lungs. The main reasons to perform a thoracentesis are to determine the cause of the pleural fluid and to relieve shortness of breath caused by the fluid
Trough level
Represents the lowest concentration of a drug in the blood serum
Urine specific gravity
is a measure of the concentration of solutes in the urine. It measures the ratio of urine density compared with water density and provides information on the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. A urinary specific gravity measurement is a routine part of urinalysis. The normal range for urine specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.030. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
Venipuncture
A procedure in which a needle is used to take blood from a vein, usually for laboratory testing. Venipuncture may also be done to remove extra red blood cells from the blood, to treat certain blood disorders. Also called blood draw and phlebotomy.
