171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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PCICU Family Information: Glossary of Terms
Advancing Feeds - increasing the amount of feeding as tolerated by the child.
Air Leak - air passing around breathing tube. May sound like snoring.
Ambuing or Bagging (am-bu-ing) - pushing air into the lungs through a tube or mask using an ambu (oxygen filled device).
Anesthesia (an-es-the-ze-a)- medication used to make the patient sleep during procedures.
Aneurysm (an-u-rizm) - a ballooning out of the wall of a vein, artery, or the heart at a weakened area due to disease, trauma or congenital anomaly.
Anomaly (a-nom-a-le)- a condition that is a change from normal.
Anticoagulant (an-tee-ko-ag-yoo-lunt) - a medicine that prevents clotting of blood.
Aorta (a-or-ta)- the main artery in the body beginning normally at the left ventricle of the heart and ending in the lower abdomen.
Apnea (ap-ne-a)- to stop breathing.
Arrhythmia (a-rith-me-a)- an abnormal heart rhythm.
Arterial Blood (ar-te-ri-al) - Blood that brings oxygen from the lungs through the pulmonary veins to the left side of the heart to the aorta and through the arteries to the rest of the body.
Arterial Line (ar-ter-e-al)- catheter inserted into an artery, which allows the measurement of blood pressure and allows sampling of blood. It may be placed in the wrist, groin, foot or umbilicus (um-bil-i-kus).
Artery (ar-ter-e)- vessels carrying the blood from the heart to the body.
Asymptomatic (a-simp-to-mat-ik) - without symptoms.
Atelectasis (at-e-lek-ta-sis) - a portion or all of a lung has collapsed and has no air in it.
Atresia (a-tre-ze-a) - absence or closure of a normal opening.
Atrium (a-tre-um) - upper chamber of the heart. The right receives blood from the body and the left receives blood from the lungs.
Attending (a-tend-ing) - Doctor in charge of patient's care.
Bacterial Endocarditis (bak-te-re-al en-do-kar-di-tis)- inflammation of the lining of the heart caused by bacteria.
Balloon Angioplasty or valvuloplasty (an-jee-o-plas-tee or val-vew-lo-plas-tee) - opening of a vessel or valve using a small balloon on a catheter inserted into the vessel or valve.
Blood Pressure (blod presh-ur) - the force of flowing blood against the walls of the arteries.
Blue Babies - Babies with a bluish tinge to their skin, caused by not enough oxygen in the arterial blood. This may be due to a heart defect or a respiratory problem.
Bradycardia (brad-e-kar-de-a) - a slow heartbeat.
Cap or capillary refill (kap-i-lar-e re-fil) - time it takes for blood to return to an area after blood flow has been stopped, such as on a fingertip.
Biopsy (bye-op-see) - cutting a small sample of living tissue for study.
Cardiac Arrest (kar-de-ak a-rest) - sudden stop of the heart beat and circulation.
Cardiac Output (kar-de-ak out-put) - amount of blood pushed out of the heart to the body.
Cardiologist (kar-de-ol-o-jist) - a doctor specializing in heart disease.
Cardiology (kar-de-ol-o-je) - the study of the heart and its function.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass (kar-de-o-pul-mo-ne-re bi-pas) - a machine used to provide circulation to the body during open-heart surgery. Heart/Lung machine.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (kar-de-o-pul-mo-ne-re re-sus-i-ta-shun) - a means to artificially maintain a persons breathing and circulation when their heart stops suddenly.
Cardiovascular Surgeon (kar-di-o-vas-ku-lar sur-jun) - doctor that performs surgery on the heart.
Catheter (kath-e-ter) - a tube passed into the body to deliver or remove fluids.
Catheterization (kath-e-ter-i-za-shun) - in cardiology, the passing of a thin flexible tube into a vein or artery and guiding it through the heart to examine or treat a patient.
CC's - a measurement of fluid. 30cc's = 1 oz.
Centigrade (sen-ti-grad) - means of measuring temperature on Celsius scale. 37ºC = 98.6ºF.
Central Venous Pressure or CVP (sen-tral ve-nus presh-ur) - catheter inserted into the large vein returning blood to the heart for measurement purposes.
Changing lines - periodic changes of tubing and fluid are necessary for infection control purposes.
Chest tube (chest) - a tube placed usually during heart or lung surgery to drain off excess fluid and blood from the surgery site.
Chylothorax (ki-lo tho-raks) - milk-like fluid consisting of fats that leaks around and presses on the lungs. Treated with a chest tube and special diet.
Clear Liquids - only fluids that are see through are allowed.
Clubbed Fingers (klub-ed fing-ers) - fingers with a short broad tip and overhanging nails that may develop in cyanotic heart disease, lung disease or may be congenital.
Congenital Anomaly (kon-jen-i-tal a-nom-a-le) - an abnormality present at birth.
Congenital Heart Defect (kon-jen-i-tal hart de-fekt) - an abnormality of the heart or great vessels that is present at birth.
Congestive Heart Failure (kon-jes-tive hart fal-yer) - a condition in which the heart is unable to pump the amount of blood needed by the body.
Course Breath Sounds - noise of loose sputum heard in lungs. Also called rhonchi (ron-ki).
CO2 - amount of carbon dioxide in the blood.
CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure - a means of weaning off the ventilator.
Crash Cart - a special cart supplied with medications and equipment for emergency situations.
CT Scan - special deep x-ray of different areas of the body.
Cultures (kul-turs)- samples sent for study to see if there is an infection. May be blood, sputum, urine or any fluid draining from the body.
Cyanosis (si-a-no-sis)- bluish color of the skin caused by lack of oxygen.
Decompensate (de-kom-pen-sate)- inability of the heart to maintain adequate circulation.
Desat or Desaturation (de-sat-ur-a-shun)- a drop in oxygen saturation.
Dextrocardia (deks-tro-kar-di-a) - Having the heart on the right side of the chest instead of the left.
Diuretic (di-u-ret-ik)- medicine that increases urinary output.
Drips - medications used to help control blood pressure and cardiac output. May be called vasoactive (va-zo-ak-tive) drugs, inotropics (i-no-tro-piks) or by the name of the drug.
Dyspnea (disp-nee-uh) - Difficult breathing.
ECHO (ek-o) or Echocardiogram (ek-o-kar-de-o-gram)- a picture of the heart and its vessels using ultrasound.
ECMO (ek-mo) or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (eks-tra-kor-por-e-al mem-bran ox-si-jen-a-tor)- an external machine that puts oxygen in blood and returns it to the body.
Edema (e-de-ma)- condition in which the body tissues contain an excess amount of fluid.
Effusion (e-fu-zhun)- escape of fluid into the lung space treated by chest tube insertion.
EKG (e-k-g) or Electrocardiogram (e-lek-tro-kar-de-o-gram)- a record of the electrical activity of the heart.
Electrolytes (e-lek-tro-lits)- chemicals in the body that help with many functions. Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium.
Embolus (em-buh-lus) - a bit of matter not usually found in the bloodstream, such as blood clot, air, cancer, fat, etc, which is carried by the blood until it obstructs the blood vessel stopping blood flow to the area past the embolus.
Extubation (eks-tu-ba-shun)- act of taking out breathing tube.
Febrile (fe-bril)- having an elevated temperature.
Fellow (fel-low)- a doctor learning a specialty.
FFP or Fresh Frozen Plasma - blood product infused to improve clotting ability or provide volume.
FIO2 - percent of oxygen delivered.
Fluoroscopy (floo-or-skop-e)- special x-ray which can see special injected fluids.
Flush - injection of fluid to clear a catheter.
Foley (fo-le) - a catheter used to drain urine.
Fontanel (fon-ta-nel)- baby's soft spot.
Fortified Breast Milk - adding calories to the milk to improve nutrition.
Gases or ABG's (gas-es)- blood samples tested to tell how well a patient is breathing.
Holter Monitor (hal-ter mon-i-tor) - device worn for 24 hours to record a persons heart rate and rhythm.
Hyperal (hi-per-al)- high calories, minerals, vitamins, and sugar given through an IV. Also called TPN.
Hypoxia(hi-poks-e-a)- less than normal amount of oxygen in the body and tissues.
IMV or Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation - a way to breath for a patient while allowing them to breathe some on their own.
Infection (in-fek-shun)- an overgrowth of bacteria causing illness.
Insufficiency (in-su-fish-en-se) - condition caused by a heart valve that does not completely close allowing blood to flow backward.
Intubation (in-tu-ba-shun)- insertion of a breathing tube.
IV or Intravenous (in-tra-ve-nos) Lines - catheters used to put fluids into a body. May be peripheral (PIV) in a small vein or central in a large deep vein. These may be in the neck, groin, umbilicus or chest and may have more than one port for infusion.
Isolation (i-so-la-shun)- separating one from others to prevent the spread of infection.
JET or Junctional Ectopic Tachycardia (junk-shun-al ek-top-ik tak-i-kar-di-a) - abnormal fast rhythm originating from the upper part of the heart.
Kilo (ke-lo) or Kilogram - measurement of weight. 1 kilo = 2.2 pounds.
Labs - many tests done on a blood sample to help care for a patient.
Leads (leeds)- wires attached to the chest to record the electrical activity of the heart.
LA or Left Atrial Line (a-tri-al)- catheter inserted through the skin, the chest wall and then the left upper chamber of the heart to allow measurement of pressures.
Lipids (lip-ids)- basic fats given through an IV catheter.
Maintenance (man-ten-ans)- fluid given through catheters to replace food and drink.
MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mag-ne-tic rez-o-nans im-ij-ing)- special test using a magnet to obtain a picture of parts of the body.
Mucus Plug (mu-kus plug)- thick sputum that blocks the airways.
Medically Paralyzed (med-i-kal-le par-a-lizd)- condition in which patient cannot move at all because of medicines given.
Murmur (mur-mur)- noise made by blood flow.
Nasal Cannula (na-zl kan-u-la)- tube used at the edge of the nose to give oxygen.
Nasogastric Tube (na-zo-gas-trik)- tube placed through the nose, down the throat and into the stomach to drain fluid or provide food.
Nitric Oxide (ni-trik ox-id)- gas used to decrease the pressure in the pulmonary system.
Nitrogen (ni-tro-jen)- gas used in certain cases to decrease the oxygen saturation.
NPO or Nothing By Mouth - no food or drink allowed.
Open Chest - chest incision is closed with a patch until the swelling is decreased enough to allow the bone, muscle and skin to be sutured back together.
Orientee (or-e-en-te)- nurse learning to specialize in heart patients.
Oxygen Hood - a plastic house that sits over the child's head to provide oxygen.
Oxygen Mask - a snug cover that fits over the child's mouth and nose to provide oxygen.
Pacemaker (pas-mak-er) - an electrical device used to stimulate the heart and control its beating.
Pacing Wires (pas-ing wirs) - wires used to pass electricity from the pacemaker to the heart.
Perfusion (per-fu-zhun) - supplying organs and tissues with oxygen and food through the arteries.
Pericarditis (per-i-kar-di-tis) - inflammation of the sac covering the heart.
Pharmacist (far-ma-sist) - person who studies medications and what they do.
Platelets (plat-lets) - blood product used to improve clotting ability.
Pleurevac (ploor-e-vak) - collector for fluid from a chest tube.
Pneumothorax (nu-mo-tho-raks) - collection of air around and pressing on lungs. Treated with a chest tube.
Prongs - also called nasal cannula. Small tubes that sit at the edge of the child's nose to provide oxygen.
Prostaglandin (pros-ta-gland-in) - medicine used to keep the hole in the heart (ductus) open.
Pulse Oximeter (puls ok-sim-e-ter) - an electronic device used to measure the percent of oxygen in arterial blood. May be on finger, hand, toe, foot, head, nose or ear.
Restraints (ri-strant) - cloth device used to tie arms and legs to prevent the child from removing lines and tubes.
RA or Right Atrial Line (a-tri-al) - catheter inserted through the skin, the chest wall and into the upper right chamber of the heart.
RBC's or Red Blood Cells - concentrated blood for infusion into patient.
Regurgitation (re-gur-ji-ta-shun) - abnormal backward flowing of blood through a valve.
Respiratory Therapist (res -pir-a-to-re ther-a-pist) - person who cares for a patient's breathing.
Rheumatic Heart Disease (roo-ma-tic) - damage to heart valves caused by rheumatic fever at an earlier age.
Rolling Call - call from operating room that patient will arrive within minutes.
Saturation or Sats (sat-u-ra-shun) - percent of oxygen measured in the blood.
Sedation (se-da-shun) - medicine given to make patient sleep.
Sepsis (sep-sis) - massive infection.
Shock (shok) - collapse of circulation.
Shoulder Roll - used to position patient for best breathing.
Shunt (shunt) - a passage of blood between two blood vessels or two sides of the heart.
Sinus Rhythm (si-nus rith-um) - normal heart rhythm.
Stenosis (sti-no-sis) - Narrowing of a passage or opening.
Steristrips (ster-e-strips) - special tape used to cover chest incision.
Sternum (ster-num) - chest bone.
Stridor (stri-dor) - high pitched harsh sound heard during breathing. Treated with racemic epinephrine (inhaled medication that opens upper airway).
Swallow Study- test to prove the ability to swallow liquid safely, not get fluid into the lungs.
Tachycardia (tak-e-kar-de-a) - an abnormally fast heart rate.
Tachypnea (tak-ip-ne-a) - an abnormally rapid breath rate.
Telemetry (te-lem-e-tre) - transmission of data electronically over distance. Box used to monitor children on 7C.
Thrombus (throm-bus) - a clot of blood in the heart or blood vessel.
Titrate (ti-trat) - to change the rate a medicine is going into an IV according to the reaction to the medicine.
Transfusion (trans-fu-zhun) - giving of a blood product through an IV.
Transpyloric Tube (trans-pi-lor-ik) - a tube passed through the nose, throat, stomach and into the intestine to provide food.
Ultrasound (ul-tra-sownd) - high frequency sound vibrations used to produce a picture of the heart.
Valve (valv) - an opening covered by a membrane between two chambers to prevent flow of fluid between the chambers.
Vein (van) - vessels that carry blood back to the heart from the body.
Vena Cava (veen-nuh kay-vuh) - one of two veins (top and bottom) that return blood to the right atrium or right top of the heart.
Venous Blood (ve-nus) - blood with low oxygen levels returning from the body to the heart through the veins.
Ventricle (ven-trik-l) - the lower chamber of the heart. The right pumps blood to the lungs and the left pumps blood to the body.
Volume (vol-um) - fluids given IV.
Weaning (wen-ing) - slowly decreasing a rate to stop a medication, device, or ventilator.
Wheezing (wez-ing) - whistling sound during breathing. Treated with a medication called Albuterol.
Yankaeur (yank-ow-er) - hard tubing used to suction mouth or nose.
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