Critical care terms

acidosis

condition in where there is too much acid in the blood stream

acute respiratory distress syndrome

when the lungs do not work sufficiently leading to rapid and shallow breathing

antibiotics

drugs used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria that cause infections

atelectasis

partial or complete collapse of the lung

blood gases

a blood test to check the level of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acidity which may be done several times a day

burn

damage to your body’s tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or radiation

cardiac arrest

heart stoppage

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

an emergency live saving procedure that is performed when a persons own breathing or heartbeat have stopped

central line

a line is inserted into the patient for liquids/drugs to be passed into their veins

central venous pressure

a measurement of the pressure in the right atrium

chest tube

a tube placed in the patients chest cavity and hooked to suction to remove air or fluid that prevents the lung from fully expanding

critical care

Multidisciplinary healthcare specialty that cares for patients with acute, life-threatening illness, or injury

ejection fraction

A measurement of how well the left ventricle, or the heart's main pumping chamber, works

endotracheal tube

Tube inserted through either the patient's nose or throat into the windpipe

enteral nutrition

also called tube feeding; it is given through a tube in the stomach or small instestine

extubation

removing a patients endotracheal (breathing) tube to see if they can breathing without the air of a ventilator

gastric residuals

amount of tube feeding formula remaining in the stomach after a reasonable amount of time

gastrostomy

an opening into the stomach from the abdominal wall, made surgically for the introduction of food

glasgow coma scale

a scoring system used to describe a patients level of consciousness/unconsciousness

hypoxia

oxygen level below normal

infusion pumps

machines that control the amount of fluid or medication that a patient recieves

intensive care unit

a specialized section of a hospital containing the equipment, medical and nursing staff, and monitoring devices to provide intensivecare

intravenous

a drug, nutrient solution, or other substance administered into a vein

jaundice

yellow/green discoloration of a patient’s skin, eyes, and other tissues as a result of raised bilirubin level

jejunostomy

the surgical creation of an opening (stoma) through the skin at the front of the abdomen and the wall of the jejunum

ketoacidosis

abnormally acidic blood due to the accumulation of biological acids called ketone bodies

multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

Presence of altered organ function in an acutely ill patient such that homeostasis cannot be maintained without intervention

nasogastric tube

A plastic tube inserted through the nose into the stomach to allow direct removal of stomach contents

parenteral nutrition

Feeding of nutritional products to a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion

pulmonary artery

large blood vessel that carries unoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs

pulmonary hypertension

Increased blood pressure to the lungs that makes it difficult for the lungs and heart to provide enough oxygen to the body

pulse oximeter

A probe that wraps around a hand or foot, connected to a machine, which measures how much oxygen the blood is carrying

sedation

medications that help patients sleep or rest

sepsis

Overwhelming infection that causes heart, blood vessel, and cell dysfunction

shock

A condition when not enough blood and oxygen can get to your organs and tissues. It causes very low blood pressure and may be life-threatening

suctioning

Placing a catheter into a breathing tube to remove excess secretions and allow the patient to breathe more comfortably

tracheostomy

A tube inserted into the windpipe via a hole in the patient's throat

ventilator

Also known as a breathing machine, this piece of equipment blows air and oxygen in and out of the lungs

vital signs

blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature

weaning

The process of taking a patient off the ventilator once they can breathe on their own