Chapter 26: Subacute Care

Vocabulary flashcards covering key acute-care medical terms from the lecture notes.

central venous line

A type of intravenous (IV) line that is inserted into a large vein in the body.

chest tubes

Hollow drainage tubes inserted into the chest to remove air, blood, pus, or fluid collected in the pleural space/cavity.

delirium

A sudden state of severe confusion due to a change in the body; also called acute confusional state or acute brain syndrome.

gastrostomy

A surgically created opening in the abdomen and stomach.

hypoxemia

Low levels of oxygen in the blood.

intubation

Insertion of a plastic tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea (windpipe) to place an artificial airway.

mechanical ventilator

A machine used to inflate and deflate the lungs when a person cannot breathe on their own.

nasogastric tube

A feeding tube inserted through the nose and into the stomach.

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube

A tube placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach to deliver liquid nutrients and medications.

pulse oximeter

A device that measures a person's blood oxygen level and pulse rate.

sedation

The use of medication to calm a person.

sepsis

A serious illness caused by an infection, usually bacterial, that requires immediate care.

telemetry

Application of a cardiac monitoring device that transmits heart rhythm and heart-rate information to a monitoring station for assessment.

total parenteral nutrition (TPN)

The intravenous infusion of nutrients in a basic form that are absorbed directly by the cells, bypassing the digestive tract.