Words You Might Hear

When your loved one needs care, you will talk to many doctors and nurses. You also will hear words you might not understand. If you have any questions, please ask your loved one’s caregivers first. You can learn more about some common emergency care, trauma care and intensive care terms in this glossary.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

ABG: Stands for Arterial Blood Gas, a blood test that determines the amount of oxygen in the blood and the amount of oxygen therapy needed.
A-line: Stands for arterial line, a thin, plastic tube placed into a patient’s artery. The line is connected to a machine that measures blood pressure. The line also helps caregivers take blood samples.
Anoxia: Lack of oxygen.
Antibiotics: Medications that fight infections. Antibiotics are given by mouth, IV (intravenous, see below) or NGT (nasogastric tube, see below).
ARDS: Stands for Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a breathing difficulty caused by a condition that stiffens the lungs.

B

Brain death: The point when all brain functions stop working and will never work again. The patient is determined to be legally dead.

C

Cardiac contusion: A bruising of the heart.
Cardiac monitor: An electronic device that measures heart and blood pressure. It also records the heart’s electrical activity.
Cervical collar: A brace placed around the neck to prevent movement. It is also called an ASPEN or Philadelphia collar.
Chest PT: A treatment that loosens mucus and fluids from the lungs. It may include gentle tapping on the chest and back, suctioning and coughing. It is sometimes called percussion or chest physiotherapy.
Chest tube: A tube inserted into the chest between the ribs to drain air or fluid from the lungs.
Closed head injury: A condition caused by a blow to the head, sudden movement or a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Collapsed lung: A completely or partially collapsed lung caused by a puncture or opening in the lung, blood or fluid.
Coma: A condition of deep unconsciousness from which a patient cannot be awakened.
Compression boots: Stocking-like leg or foot covers that inflate and deflate to improve circulation and prevent blood clots. They are also sometimes called sequential compression devices.
CPR: Stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, emergency treatments to restore breathing and/or heartbeat. These may include mouth-to-mouth respiration and pressure to the chest, use of electrical shock, medications or a ventilator.
CT scan: A two-dimensional X-ray test used to diagnose many conditions. It can examine almost any part of the body. It is sometimes called CAT scan or computerized axial tomography.
Culture: A sample of blood or other fluids that is tested for bacteria or other organisms.
CVP: Stands for central line, a flexible plastic tube inserted into a patient’s vein. It allows a patient to receive blood, fluids or medication. It also measures heart pressure. It is sometimes called a triple lumen catheter.

D

DNR: Stands for do not resuscitate. It is an instruction telling the care team they are not to apply CPR (see above) should a patient’s breathing or heartbeat stop. It is sometimes called “no code.”

E

Echocardiogram: A sound-wave test that creates a moving picture of the heart. It is sometimes called a 2-D Echo.
EEG: Stands for electroencephalogram, a test that traces the brain’s electrical activity and determines whether or not the brain is functioning normally.
EKG: Stands for electrocardiogram, a test that traces the heart’s electrical activity and determines whether or not the heart is functioning normally.
ET tube: Stands for endotracheal tube, a plastic tube inserted through the mouth (or nose) into the windpipe to help with breathing. It can deliver oxygen or help remove secretions from the lung.

F

Face mask: A plastic mask placed over the nose and mouth to deliver oxygen. It is sometimes called an aerosol mask.
Feeding tube: A soft, plastic tube placed in the nose or mouth that supplies liquid nourishment directly to the stomach.
Foley catheter: A soft, plastic tube that drains urine from the bladder.

G

GCS: Stands for Glasgow coma scale, a scoring system that describes a patient’s level of consciousness.

H

Halo: A metal ring that prevents head movement in patients with certain kinds of neck injuries.
Hematoma: A collection of blood resulting from broken blood vessels.

I

ICP: Stands for intracranial pressure, the pressure within the head.
Intracranial pressure monitor: A device inserted through the skull to measure the brain’s internal pressure. It is sometimes called a ventriculostomy.
IV line: Stands for intravenous line, a small, plastic tube inserted directly into a vein to deliver medications, blood, sugar and salt-water solutions.

L

LAP: Stands for exploratory laparotomy, a surgical operation that identifies and repairs internal injuries to organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen, stomach or intestines.

M

MI: Stands for myocardial infarction, the clinical term for a heart attack.
MRI: Stands for magnetic resonance imaging, a test providing images of a bone or body area using magnetism rather than X-rays.

N

Nasal cannula: Small, plastic tubing placed at the opening of the nose to deliver oxygen. Sometimes called an NC.
NGT: Stands for nastrogastric tube, a small, plastic tube inserted through the nose or mouth to temporarily deliver nourishment to or remove fluid from the stomach.
Neurologic: Having to do with the brain, spinal cord or nerves.

O

Oxygen: An element needed for breathing. Patients with specific injuries may need an increased amount of oxygen.

P

Paralysis: A partial or complete inability to move voluntarily.
Parapalegic: Paralysis of the lower half of the body, caused by injury to the spinal cord.
PCA: Stands for patient-controlled analgesia, a device giving a patient control over the amount of pain medication he needs.
PEG: Stands for gastrostomy tube, a soft, plastic tube placed in the stomach to deliver liquid nourishment.
Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs.
Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.
Pulmonary contusion: Bruising of the lung.
Pulse-OX: A device that measures the body’s oxygen level through the skin. It is sometimes called an oximeter.

Q

Quadriplegic: Paralysis from the neck down caused by a spinal cord injury.

R

Rehabilitation: Treatment to help patients reach their highest possible level of functioning.
Rounds: Scheduled visits by the care team (including doctors and nurses) to discuss a patient’s care.

S

Sepsis: Bacteria or other organisms present in blood or body tissue.
Splint: A rigid device that prevents movement in an injured area, such as a splint for a broken arm.
Spinal Cord Injury: An injury to the spine that may cause paralysis because it interferes with messages getting to and from the brain. It is sometimes called a SCI.
Suction: The process of the removal of fluids or secretions.
Swan Ganz Catheter: A small, flexible plastic tube inserted through a large vein in the neck, upper chest or groin. It allows a cardiac monitor to display information about the heart. It is sometimes called a PA line or Swan.

T

TPN: Stands for total parenteral nutrition, an intravenous solution of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals administered when the stomach or intestinal tract cannot be used for nourishment.
Trach: A procedure that places a small hole in the neck and windpipe to maintain an open airway. It is sometimes called a tracheostomy.
Trach tube: The small, plastic or metal tube that maintains an open airway. It is sometimes called a tracheostomy tube.
Traction: Weights and pressure used to hold fractured bones in the proper position for healing.
Trauma rehab rounds: A weekly rehabilitation team meeting led by a physical medicine specialist (called a physiatrist). The team will discuss a patient’s needs and will recommend any possible follow-up treatment after hospital care.
Tube feeding: Liquid nourishment administered through a tube into the stomach or intestinal tract.

V

Vent: Short for ventilator, a machine that delivers oxygen to the lungs to assist breathing.
Vital Signs: A patient’s temperature, rate of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.

W

Weaning: The gradual removal of treatment or medications as a patient’s condition improves.

X

X-ray: A test that produces a one-dimensional picture of the body. It is used to diagnose structural injuries such as fractured bones.

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