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Virtual Hospital: ElectricAirway: Upper Airway Problems in Children: Dictionary
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ElectricAirway: Upper Airway Problems in Children
Dictionary
Donna M. Santer, M.D., Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.
Peer Review Status: Externally Peer Reviewed by Lauren D Holinger, MD, Robert J. Winter, MD and the AMA
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ABG - arterial blood gas.
Adenitis - inflammation of a lymph node.
Angioedema - sudden onset of periodic, recurrent episodes of noninflammatory swelling of skin,
mucous membranes, and other tissues, associated with food allergies, urticaria or possibly stress
or emotional factors.
Aphonia - loss of voice.
Apnea (reflex) - episodes of bradycardia, apnea, and cyanosis. Also known as dying spells.
Asplenia - absence of the spleen due to congenital or traumatic cause.
Asthma - a disease with reversible narrowing of the airways, edema of the mucosa, and mucus in
the lumen of the small airways, particularly the bronchi and bronchioles, caused by the local
release of vasoactive substances secondary to many causes such as allergies.
Branchial cleft cyst - a malformation of the branchial cleft during embryogenesis such that the
remnant forms a cyst, usually found in the lateral neck.
Bronchiolitis - inflammation of the bronchioles, often associated with bronchopneumonia. Also
known as capillary bronchitis.
Bronchitis - inflammation of the bronchi.
Bronchoscopy - a medical procedure involving the inspection of the respiratory tree using a
bronchoscope, which is an instrument similar to a telescope but with a built-in light source and
small size.
CBC - complete blood count.
Cellulitis - inflammation of the skin.
Cine CT - motion pictures of a computed tomographic study.
Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva.
Cricothyrotomy - a medical procedure involving an incision being made between the cricoid and
thyroid cartilages to maintain patency of the airway.
Croup - an infection of the larynx in children characterized by a barky, hoarse cough and
difficulty in breathing. Often caused by parainfluenza 1 virus. Also known as
laryngotracheobronchitis.
Cyanosis - a blue coloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to deoxygenation of the
blood.
Cystic fibrosis - an autosomal recessive metabolic disease that affects the Na-Cl transport protein
on cell membranes, which causes respiratory, gastrointestina, and metabolic derangements in
affected persons. Affected persons have a shortened life span and are diagnosed by quantitative
measurement of sweat chloride.
Dying spells - episodes of bradycardia, apnea, and cyanosis. Also known as reflex apnea.
Dysphagia - difficulty in swallowing.
Dyspnea - shortness of breath.
Echocardiography - a medical test using ultrasound and Doppler techniques to visualize the
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structure of the heart.
ECG - a medical test to record the electrical current in the heart. Also known as an
electrocardiogram.
Emphysema - a condition of the lung characterized by destruction of lung tissue resulting in
enlarged terminal bronchioles and reduction of their number.
Endoscopy - a generic medical procedure used to visualize the inside of an organ system. This
includes bronchoscopy (respiratory system), endoscopy (specifically referring to the
gastrointestinal tract), cystoscopy (genitourinary tract), etc.
Epiglottitis - an inflammation of the epiglottitis usually caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b.
This is a medical emergency.
Glottis - the vocal apparatus of the larynx consisting of the vocal folds of mucosa investing the
vocal ligament, vocal muscle on each side of the vocal ligament, and vocal cords. Also known as
the voice box.
Goiter - a chronic enlargement of the thyroid gland not due to neoplasm often seen in endemic
areas.
Hyaline membrane disease - a disease causing respiratory distress usually in premature newborns
in which hyalin, a glassy, eosinophilic materia, is seen in the alveoli. Also known as respiratory
distress syndrome.
Hypercapnea - the presence of an abnormally high amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. Also
known as hypercarbia.
Hyperemia - an increased amount of blood in a tissue or organ. Also known as congestion.
Hypocalcemia - the presence of an abnormally low amount of calcium in the blood.
Hypopharynx - synonymous with larynx.
Hypoxia - the presence of an abnormally low amount of oxygen in the blood.
Laryngitis (acute infectious) - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx usually
secondary to influenza virus.
Laryngitis (spasmotic) - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx generally causing
stridor. The stridor subsides easily only to return on subsequent nights. Also known as spasmotic
croup.
Laryngomalacia - a softening of the structures of the larynx. Also known as chondromalacia of the
larynx.
Laryngoscopy - a procedure similar to a bronchoscopy, but only the laryngeal structures are
visualized.
Laryngoplasty - plastic surgery or reparation of the structures of the larynx.
Laryngotracheobronchitis - also known as viral croup.
Leukocytosis - an elevation of the normal leukocyte blood count.
Lymphocytosis - an elevation of the normal lymphocyte blood count.
Malacia - a softening of the affected structure.
Measles - an acute exanthematous disease caused by the measles virus and characterized by a
morbiliform erythematous rash, high fever, inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes,
with cough, runny nose, and white spots on the buccal mucosa known as Koplik spots.
Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges caused by an infectious process often viral or
bacterial.
Multimedia - the concurrent use of multiple forms of media.
Nebulizer - a medical device used to aerosolize a liquid medication into fine particles.
Otitis edia - an inflammation of the middle ear structures.
Pericarditis - an inflammation of the pericardium.
Peritonsillar abscess - an abscess involving the structures around the tonsil. This is a surgical
emergency.
Pneumonia - an inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often causing consolidation of the affected
part with the alveolar air spaces being filled with blood, cells, and fibrin. It has many causes.
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Virtual Hospital: ElectricAirway: Upper Airway Problems in Children: Dictionary
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Pneumothorax - the presence of gas or air in the pleural cavity.
Pulse oximetry - a medical text involving the determination of oxygen saturation externally using
an infrared detector placed across a capillary bed such as a digit or ear.
Rale - a crackling sound heard on auscultation of the chest.
Retropharyngeal abscess - an abscess involving the structures in the posterior pharynx. This is a
surgical emergency.
Reye's syndrome - a disease of children of unknown etiology, characterized by a sudden loss of
consciousness, cerebral edema, and marked fatty changes in the liver and renal tubules. May be
associated with aspirin ingestion after certain viral illnesses. This is a medical emergency.
Rhinitis - an inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Rhinorrhea - a discharge from the nasal mucosa.
Rhonchi - a wheezing sound heard on auscultation of the chest.
Sinusitis - an inflammation of the sinus mucosa.
Steeple sign - a radiographic sign seen on the anteroposterior endolateral neck x-rays in children
with croup. A narrowing of the air column in the hypopharynx is seen resembling a church spire.
Stenosis - the narrowing of the lumen of a structure. Complete stenosis is also known as atresia.
Stridor - an inspiratory, high-pitched sound caused by obstruction in the upper airway.
Subglottic stenosis - stenosis of the structures below the glottis.
Tetany - an intermittent cramping of the muscles, often occurring for prolonged periods of time
with associated pain. Often caused by metabolic derangements such as hypocalcemia.
Thumb sign - a radiographic sign seen on lateral endolateral neck x-rays in children with
epiglottitis, caused by the marked swelling of aryepiglottic folds and arytenoid cartilages. The
swelling resembles the human thumb.
Toxic - pertaining to a toxin. A very ill appearing child.
Tracheoesophageal fistula - generally a congenital abnormality involving a communication
between the trachea and esophagus. It may also be acquired.
Tracheomalacia - a softening of the tracheal structures.
Tracheoplasty - plastic surgery or reparation of the structures of the trachea.
Tracheostomy - an opening in the trachea.
Tracheotomy - a medical procedure creating an opening in the trachea.
URI - Upper respiratory tract infection.
Web - a thin tissue or membrane bridging a space.
(Modified from Stedman's Medical Dictionary, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 25th Edit. 1990.)
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Virtual Hospital: ElectricAirway: Upper Airway Problems in Children: Dictionary
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1992-2002 the Author(s) and The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.
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