RCP 214 Study Guide Exam 1 Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards derived from the RCP 214 Study Guide for Exam 1 covering chapters 1 through 4.

Child Airway Anatomy

The anatomical structure of a child's airway, specifically identifying the narrowest or smallest portion.

Airway Positioning

The optimal physical positioning techniques used to keep an airway fully open in both pediatric and adult patients.

Interalveolar Connections

Anatomic structures or openings that form pathways between adjacent alveoli to facilitate collateral ventilation.

Infant Pulmonary Reserve

The physiological pulmonary capacity of infants, which is lower than that of adults and increases risk of respiratory fatigue.

FLACC Scale

An acronym for Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability, used as an observational pain assessment tool in young or non-verbal children.

L/S Ratio

The lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio, an amniotic fluid test used to assess fetal lung maturity and calculate the percentage likelihood of developing Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS).

Primary and Secondary Apnea

Two stages of respiratory arrest in neonates; primary apnea typically resolves with tactile stimulation, whereas secondary apnea requires positive pressure ventilation.

APGAR Score

An acronym representing Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration, used to rapidly evaluate newborn extrauterine adaptation.

Evidence-Based Medicine

A systematic healthcare approach integrating clinical expertise with current research evidence to optimize patient care and professional practice.

Gestational Age Due Date Estimation Tool

An effective clinical tool or ultrasound measurement utilized at an early gestational age for accurate due date calculation.

Embryonic Phase of Fetal Lung Development

The developmental phase during which the initial right and left lung buds arise.

Pseudoglandular Phase Branching

The stage of fetal lung development in which the conducting airways undergo branching up to approximately 4 generations.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) Appearance Stage

The specific phase of fetal lung development during which the lung lipid phosphatidylglycerol (PG) first appears.

One-Chambered Heart Stage

The specific embryonic development week when a single-chambered heart effectively pumps blood throughout the embryo.

Germinal Matrix

A fragile, highly vascularized subependymal network in the fetal brain that is highly vulnerable to hemorrhage in premature infants.

Fetal Circulation Pathway

The sequential circulatory pathway through which maternal oxygenated blood flows into the fetus and returns back to the mother.

Transitional Circulation at Birth

The physiological circulatory changes occurring immediately after delivery, including closure of fetal shunts and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance.

Spontaneous Preterm Birth Rate

The percentage of total premature births that occur spontaneously without a known or explained medical cause.

Resuscitation Team Efforts

The structured, step-by-step team protocols and assigned roles utilized during neonatal resuscitation.

NRP CPR Compression-Ventilation Ratio

The specific chest compression to ventilation ratio mandated by Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) guidelines.

Epinephrine Administration Route in NRP

The designated administration routes (e.g., intravenous or endotracheal) for delivering epinephrine to increase heart rate during neonatal CPR.

CPR Withholding and Discontinuation Criteria

The clinical and ethical guidelines that define conditions under which CPR should be withheld or ceased in a neonate.

Self-Inflating vs Flow-Inflating Bags

The distinct operational differences between self-inflating manual resuscitators and flow-inflating bags requiring a continuous gas source.

Threshold of Survival Viability

The specific combination of gestational age and birth weight where extreme prematurity makes infant survival highly unlikely.

Mature Surfactant Production Timeframe

The specific gestational timeframe during which mature surfactant is synthesized in amounts necessary to sustain normal pulmonary mechanics.

Deadspace Ventilation in RDS

The physiological occurrence in infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome where areas of the lung are ventilated but lack adequate capillary perfusion.

Neonatal Chest Wall Compliance

The high flexibility and compliance of the neonatal chest wall that predisposes preterm infants to sternal retractions and RDS.

Preterm Post-Delivery Risk Factors

Specific clinical vulnerabilities and physiological issues that pose immediate risks to preterm infants following birth.

Nasal CPAP Indications

Clinical criteria and signs of respiratory distress that indicate the administration of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in neonates.

Cerebral Palsy Physiologic Triggers

The physiological changes and compromised cerebral blood flow mechanisms that can cause brain injury leading to cerebral palsy.

Oxygen Toxicity in Premature Infants

The physiological risks and complications associated with administering excessive $O_2$ concentrations to premature infants.

Preterm Delivery Delay Strategies

Pharmacological and clinical interventions implemented to suppress premature labor contractions and delay birth.