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Patients, parents, families, and friends are often confronted with words used in an intensive care unit that they are unfamiliar with. We very well recognize this and encourage anyone and everyone to speak up and ask questions of the medical staff at any time. We have created a glossary of terms that are often used in medical centers for families to use as a reference if they so choose. Glossary of Terms used in the Pediatric Surgical Heart Unit Acidosis………………………..a buildup of acid in the blood Alveoli………………………….air sacs in the lungs in which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged Anastomosis…………………..a surgical connection between two vessels or structures Angiogram……………………..x-ray picture of arteries or veins Angiography…………………...x-ray picture of the heart and coronary arteries in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist or neck and guided into the heart over a wire. Dye is injected through the catheter to trace blood flow in the artery or vein to detect blockages or narrowing Anterior…………………………term meaning front Anticoagulant………………….medication to keep blood from clotting; also known as a blood thinner Aorta……………………………the artery carrying oxygenated blood from the heart out to the body Aortic valve……………………the valve (most commonly) between the left ventricle and the aorta APN…………………………….Advance Practice Nurse is a board certified nurse with an advanced degree Arrhythmia……………………..An irregular or uneven heartbeat causing the heart to pump less efficiently Arterial blood gas……………..“blood gas” or ABG is a blood test that measures pH, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels; bicarbonate, hemoglobin, and lactate levels, and electrolytes Arterial pressure lines………..a catheter in a smaller branch of an artery to monitor blood pressure continuously during surgery and in the ICU; also used to draw blood (also referred to as an “ART” Line) Arteriole………………………..a smaller branch of an artery Artery…………………………..a blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart to the body, brain, and internal organs 1 Ascending aorta………………the first part of the aorta that emerges from the left ventricle Ascites…………………………a buildup of fluid within the abdomen around the intestines Aspiration……………………...two definitions: (1) removal of fluid or air by suction (2) food, liquid, or saliva getting into the windpipe/trachea Atresia………………………….absence or narrowing of a hole or opening in the body (i.e.: pulmonary atresia is the absence of the pulmonary valve) Atrial septal defect……………ASD is an abnormal opening or hole in the wall that separates the right and left atrium Atrial septectomy……………..surgical removal of the wall between the right and left atria Atrioventricular………………..between the atria and ventricles Atrium………………………….one of the two upper pumping chambers of the heart that receives blood from veins and pumps it into the ventricles downstream AV node……………………….a special group of cells between the atria and ventricles that slows the electrical current of the heart rhythm as it passes through to the ventricles Betadine……………………….an orange-brown colored skin disinfectant Blood culture………………….a blood test done in the laboratory to detect an infection Bolus tube feeding…………...periodic or scheduled tube feeding, usually lasting 20-30 minutes that is most similar to eating a regular meal Bradycardia……………………a slow heartbeat Bundle branch block…………condition in which portions of the heart conduction system become unable to conduct the electrical signal normally Bypass machine……………...a machine that takes over heart and lung functions temporarily during heart surgery (also called cardiopulmonary bypass machine) Cannulation……………………surgical technique to insert a tube into a duct, cavity, or blood vessel Capillaries……………………..the smallest of blood vessels that distribute oxygenated blood from arteries to the tissues of the body and bring deoxygenated blood from the tissues back into the veins Cardiac output………………..the amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in one minute with delivery of oxygen to the tissues/organs Cardiopulmonary……………..term having to do with both the heart and lungs Cardioversion…………………a medical procedure to restore an irregular or fast heartbeat to a normal rate 2 Central line……………………a special IV placed in a large vein, usually in the groin or chest, used to give potent medications, draw blood samples, and to measure central venous pressure (CVP) Cerebral oximeter…………….a probe applied to the forehead to monitor blood oxygen saturation within the brain tissue Chaplain……………………….a member of the clergy who provides religious support at an institution such as a hospital Chest tube…………………….a tube inserted in the chest near the heart and lungs to drain excess fluid or blood after surgery (the tube is along site the heart or lungs, not in) Chlorhexidine…………………an antiseptic used to clean lines and wounds Coarctation……………………narrowing of a blood vessel; usually refers to the narrowing of the aorta Conduction system…………..a group of specialized cardiac muscle cells in the walls of the heart that send electrical signals to the heart muscle causing it to contract Coronary arteries…………….arteries supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscle CPAP………………………….”Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” is a respiratory treatment that uses mild air pressure to help keep the airways open CVP……………………………“Central Venous Pressure” is a measurement of how much pressure is needed to fill the right side of the heart with blood. It is also used to monitor the amount of fluid in the blood vessels Cyanosis………………………bluish coloring of the skin, nails, lips, or tongue due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood Deoxygenated………………..blood that is not carrying a lot of oxygen Developmental care…………individualized care for infants designed to minimize the stress of an intensive care environment Diastolic pressure……………the amount of pressure in the arteries or chamber when the heart is relaxed and the lower of the two blood pressure numbers Dilate…………………………...to open or widen Diuretic………………………...a type of medication used to get rid of extra fluid in the body causing more urine to be made (examples include furosemide [Lasix] and chlorothiazide [Diuril]) Dysphagia……………………..a swallowing problem ECHO………………………….”Echocardiogram” is an ultrasound test used to produce pictures of the heart ECMO………………………….”Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation” is a treatment that uses a cardiopulmonary bypass machine to take over the work of the lungs and sometimes the heart to provide time for an infant or child’s body to rest while he or she is very sick Edema…………………………build-up of fluid in the body tissues causing swelling 3 EKG……………………………”Electrocardiogram” is a recording on a graph monitoring the electrical activity of the heart Endocardium………………….the most inner lining within the heart ET Tube……………………….the ”Endotracheal” tube is inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to allow assisted breathing with a mechanical ventilator ENT…………………………….a physician/surgeon trained in the medical and surgical treatment of the Ears, Nose, and Throat Enteral Feeding……………....delivery of nutritionally complete feeding (formula or breast milk) to the stomach Epicardium…………………….a thin membrane covering the outside surface of the heart muscle Fenestration…………………...a surgical procedure to create a new opening/hole between two chambers Foley……………………………a catheter or tube inserted into the bladder that is connected to a bag to collect and measure urine output Foramen Ovale……………….a normal opening between the right and left atria in the fetal and postnatal heart Gastroenterologist……………a physician specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system problems Hypertension………………….high blood pressure Hypertrophy…………………...abnormal thickening/enlargement of the heart muscle Hypoplastic……………………under-formed structure with a lack of function Hypotension…………………..low blood pressure Inferior…………………………a term meaning “below” Inotrope……………………….medication given to increase the force of the heartbeat Intubation……………………..placement of a breathing tube (ET Tube) in the trachea (windpipe) Ischemia………………………inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles, caused by a blockage or damage to an artery IVC…………………………….”Inferior Vena Cava” is the large vein that returns “blue” (deoxygenated) blood from the lower body to the right atrium of the heart Ligate………………………….a term meaning “to tie off” Mitral Valve…………………...the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle Murmur………………………..an extra or unusual sound heard between heartbeats Myocardium…………………..the middle, muscular layer of the heart wall Nasal Cannula………………..a device used to delivery supplemental oxygen or airflow to a person in need of respiratory help 4 NPO……………………………”Nil Per Os” is Latin for “nothing by mouth”; it means no eating or drinking by mouth for a certain period of time NG tube……………………….”Nasogastric” tube is a special tube that carries food and medicine to the stomach through the nose Nitric Oxide……………………a gas given along with oxygen to help dilate or widen blood vessels in the lungs (also referred to as NO) Normal Sinus Rhythm……….a normal rhythm (with each heartbeat originating appropriately from the sinus node) O2………………………………abbreviation for oxygen Occlusion……………………...blockage or closing of a blood vessel OT……………………………...”Occupational Therapist” is a licensed healthcare professional who helps patients develop, recover, and improve skills needed for daily living, working, and playing Pacemaker…………………….a device to regulate the heartbeat; it may be permanent when the device is implanted into the chest or abdomen or temporary with wires coming out of the chest and connected to a device PAP…………………………….Pulmonary artery pressure is the blood pressure within the pulmonary artery/lungs Patent………………………….a connection that remains open PDA……………………………”Patent Ductus Arteriosus” is a small vessel connecting the aorta and pulmonary artery that doesn’t close after birth, it is a normal part of fetal circulation PFO……………………………”Patent Foramen Ovale” is an opening in the wall between the right and left atria that is present at birth but does not close completely Perfusion……………………...circulation of blood through organs and tissues Pericardial effusion…………..fluid build-up around the heart Pericardium…………………...the sac or membrane that surrounds the heart PT………………………………”Physical Therapist” is a licensed health care professional who helps improve or restore mobility Pleural effusion……………….fluid buildup around the lungs Posterior……………………….term for back or rear Premature contraction……….a heartbeat that comes too early Prophylaxis……………………a preventative measure (ex – a treatment given to prevent infection or disease) Prostaglandins………………..hormone-like substance that promotes smooth muscle relaxation (often used to keep a PDA open) 5 PSHU……………………….….”Pediatric Surgical Heart Unit” Pulmonary………………….….term relating to the lungs Pulmonary arteries…………...blood vessels that carry blue (de-oxygenated) blood to the lungs from the right ventricle in the normal heart Pulmonary hypertension….….high blood pressure in the lungs; can be caused by increased blood flow to the lungs in some heart defects or by constriction of the blood vessels within the lungs Pulmonary valve………………valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery Pulmonary vascular resistance……...the amount of pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs that the heart has to pump against Pulmonary veins……………...blood vessels that carry red (oxygenated) blood from the lungs back to the left atrium within the normal heart Pulse oximeter………………..a machine that uses a light to measure the amount of oxygen the blood is carrying in the body (AKA pulse ox) Regurgitation………………….a condition in which blood leaks backwards into the heart through the valves that do not close completely (also called leakage or insufficiency) Reflux………………………….a condition in which stomach contents back up from the stomach into the esophagus (AKA gastroesophageal reflux or GER) Renal…………………………..term relating to the kidneys Renal oximetry………………..probe applied to kidney area to monitor the blood oxygen saturation within the kidney tissue Reperfusion……………………return of normal blood flow to an organ after a period of poor blood flow RT………………………………”Respiratory Therapist” is a licensed healthcare professional who helps patients breathe better Sats…………………………….term to describe the oxygen saturation, how much oxygen the blood is carrying in the body Septal defect………………….a hole in the wall separating the atria or in the wall separating the ventricle (ASD, VSD) Septum………………………...wall separating two chambers (ie between the two ventricles or two atria) Shunt…………………………..a connection or communication allowing blood to flow either in one direction or both directions from one chamber to another (can be through a preexisting septal communication or a piece of tubing placed surgically) Sinoatrial node……………….Sinoatrial node, a special group of cells located in the right atrium of the heart that produces the electrical impulse needed to stimulate the heartbeat in the normal heart 6 Social worker………………….licensed healthcare professional that help patients get the health and social services they need ST………………………………“Speech Therapist” is a licensed healthcare professional that assesses and promotes safe and efficient oral feeding; also assesses and addresses early cognitive skills and communication skills as children age and develop Stenosis………………………..a narrowing, usually refers to a valve or blood vessel Stent……………………………a stainless steel mesh tube placed inside a blood vessel to hold it open Sternal Precautions…………..handling recommendations to avoid discomfort and promote proper healing of the sternum (breastbone) after open heart surgery Sternotomy…………………….an incision down the breastbone (sternum) Stroke volume…………………the actual amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle with one heartbeat Superior………………………..Above SVC…………………………….Superior vena cava is the large vein that returns blue (deoxygenated) blood from the upper body to the right atrium in the normal heart SVO2…………………………..mixed venous saturation is a measurement of the amount of oxygen in the blood after supplying the organs and tissues with oxygen Systemic……………………….having to do with the body Systemic vascular resistance………..the amount of pressure in the blood vessels of the body that the heart has to pump against Systole…………………………the contraction phase of the heartbeat when the muscle squeezes and pumps blood to the lungs and body Systolic pressure……………..the higher of the two numbers used to measure blood pressure; amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts Tachycardia…………………...fast heartbeat Tachypnea…………………….fast breathing Telemetry……………………...remote way of monitoring heart rate and rhythm TPN…………………………….total parenteral nutrition is intravenous or IV nutrition; that is absorbed into the body by the blood Transthoracic………………….through the chest wall Tricuspid valve………………..the valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle Trophic feeds………………….practice of feeding very small amounts of enteral (to the stomach) feedings to stimulate the development of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) Valve…………………………...structural part of the heart and veins that act like doors to prevent blood from flowing backwards 7 Valvuloplasty…………………..reshaping of a heart valve with surgical or catheter techniques (opening up a tight valve) Vasodilators……………………medications that dilate or open up arteries or veins Vasopressors………………….medications that increase blood pressure Vein…………………………….a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the body or lungs Ventricles………………………lower pumping chambers of the heart VSD…………………………….”ventricular septal defect” - an abnormal opening or hole in the wall that separates the left and right ventricle of the heart allowing crossover (shunting) of blood 8