Pulm Common Terms

Pulm Common Terms

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

• occur in critically ill people

• fatal and risk increases with age

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

• blood test measures the acidity, pH, levels of O2, and CO2 from artery

• check patient lungs

Atelectasis

• failure of lung to inflate completely

• caused by blocked airway from mucus, pneumonia, or shallow breathing

Cheyne-Stokes Breathing

alternating periods of deep breathing followed by apnea

Clubbing

• a deformity of fingers and fingernails

• may be associated with chronic lung disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD or reflux)

• stomach acid moves up into esophagus

• causes inflammation and discomfort

• can cause coughing or wheezing

Nasal Cannula

• a device to deliver supplemental oxygen or increased airflow

Nasogastric Tube

• tube attached to mechanical ventilator that goes thru patient’s nose and into stomach

Pleural Effusion

• abnormal collection of fluid between lining of lung and chest wall

Rhonchi

• sounds that resemble snoring which occur when air is blocked or airflow becomes rough thru large airways

Spirometry

• diagnostic test to measure amount of air entering and leaving lungs