Question | Answer |
ABG | Arterial blood gases. |
Afebrile | without fever. |
Apnea | without breathing. |
Arrhythmia | irregular heartbeat. |
Arteriosclerosis | hardening of the arteries. |
Asthma | disease that affects th air passages in the lungs causing shortness of breath. |
Atherosclerosis | deposits of fat in arterial walls. |
Atrial fibrillation | AF,rapid,irregular twitching of the heart. |
Axillary | under the armpit. |
BMI | Body Mass Index. |
Blood Pressure | BP,the force the blood exerts on the artery walls as they contract and relax with each heartbeat. |
Brachial | upper arm or elbow. |
Bradycardia | extermely slow heartbeat. |
Bradypnea | slow breathing. |
Call the arrest | notify the appropriate people. |
Cardiopulmonary | pertaining to the heart and lungs. |
Cardiovascular | pertaining to the heart and vessels. |
Carotid | neck. |
CCU | Coronary Care Unit. |
Cheyne-Stokes | breathing characterized by fluctuations in depth of respiration. |
Clapping | using cupped hands to firmly strike regions to move secretions. |
COLD | chronic obstructive lung disease. |
Congestive Heart Failure | CHF,heart is unable to pump all the blood away from the lungs. |
Crackles | sounds produced by air passing over airway secretions. |
Crepitation | sound produced by air passing over airway secretions. |
CSM | Circulation,Sensation and Movement. |
CVA | Cerebrovascular Accident |
DB&C | Deep Breathing and Coughing |
Deep suctioning | endotracheal suctioning. |
Diastolic pressure | pressure exerted on vessels when the heart is realxing. |
Dorsalis pedis | ankle. |
Dyspnea | Difficult breathing. |
Emphysema | degeneration of the alveolar sacs in the lungs. |
Extubate | remove the endotracheal tube. |
Febrile | with fever. |
Femoral | thigh. |
Height and Weight | anthropometric measurements. |
Hemorrage | loss of large amounts of blood. |
Ht. | Height. |
Hypertension | High Blood Pressure. |
Hypotension | Low Blood Pressure. |
Hypoxia | insufficient oxygen in the blood or tissue. |
ICU | Intensive Care Unit. |
Idiopathic | disease with unknown cause. |
MI | Myocardial Infarction. |
Orally | by mouth. |
Oximeter | instrument to measure oxygen level in blood. |
Oxygenation | process of the body being supplied with adequate amounts of oxygen. |
Pacemaker | electronic devce that regulates the heartbeat. |
PFT | Pulmonary Function Test |
Physiotherapist | assesses patients,devises deep breathing exercises. |
Pneumonia | acute infection of the lungs. |
Popliteal | behind the knee |
Posterial tibial | back of the skin. |
Postural drainage | using gravity to help drain mucus and secretions. |
PRN | As Required. |
Pulse | rate,volume and rhythm of the heart. |
PVA | Peripheral Vascular Accident. |
Radial | wrist. |
Rales | crackles. |
Rectally | by rectum. |
Respirations | rate and quality of breathing. |
Rhonchi | musical-pitched sounds that resemble snoring, heard on auscultation. |
RT/RRCP | Registered Respiratory Technician. |
SPD | Sterile Processing Department. |
Sphygmomanometer | instrument to measure blood pressure. |
Stethoscope | device that amplifies sound to listen to the heart and take lblood pressure. |
Sublingual | below the tongue. |
Systolic pressure | pressure on the vascular walls when the heart is contracting. |
Tachypnea | increase in the rate of breathing. |
Telemetry monitor | traces heart's activity,readout displayed on small screen. |
Telemetry Unit | a step down unit from ICU |
Temperature | the body's ability to control heat. |
Temporal | by forehead. |
Thermometer | instrument to measure heat. |
Tracheostomy | formng a new opening in the trachea. |
Tympanically | by ear. |
TRP | Temperature,Pulse and Respiration. |
Vibrations | rapid movements of flattened hands to move secrections. |
Vital Signs | important measurements of the body's state of health. |
Wt. | Weight. |