SFMED- General Medical Terms
Home |
Star Fleet Library |
BuPers |
SF Engineering |
SF Intelligence |
SF JAG |
SF Marine Corps |
SF Medical |
SF Records |
SF Sciences
UFP Dept. of Colonial Affairs |
UFP Educational, Scientific and Cultural Org.
ABG
Arterial Blood Gases; blood is measured for O2 content; indications: asthma, COPD, chest trauma
Adenosine
Stabilize heart rhythm; for heart arrhythmia
Altered LOC
Altered Level Of Consciousness, possibly from concussion or internal brain hemorrhage
Altered Mental State
Mental disorientation, such as in a drug overdose
Ampule
Vial
Anterior
The forward plane of the body
Apgar Scores
Taken at one minute and five minutes of life, reflect the general status of a newborn, including how well the baby is moving and breathing and other parameters. Perfect score is 10; many healthy babies score 9.
Atropine
A drug used to speed up heart rate, or to treat cardiac arrest
Bilateral Tib-Fib Fractures
Broken tibia and fibula on both legs
Bleeding Out
Very severe hemorrhaging, could be fatal
Blood Culture
Blood is drawn and cultured for bacteria; indications high fever
Blood Gas
Blood sample from artery used to compute the blood level of O2, CO2, and pH
Blown Pupil
Abnormal pupil dilation; dilation following a blow to the head could mean increased intracranial pressure, usually caused by brain hemorrhage
BOA
Birth Out of Asepsis (non-sterile conditions)
Cardiac Enzymes
Enzymes released by damaged heart muscles
CBC
Complete Blood Count
CC
Chief Complaint
cc
cubic centimeters, a liquid unit of measurement equal to one milliliter
Chem 7
Measures basic electrolytes in blood: Na, Cl, K, CO2, blood urea N2 (BUN), creatinine, and glucose
CHF
Congestive Heart Failure
Coag Panel
Assess blood coagulation
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Crack the Chest
Make a foot-long incision between two ribs on the left side to gain access to the heart, used in emergency conditions only
Crash Cart
Medical supply cart for cardiac and respiratory arrest
CSF
Cerebrospinal Fluid
D 50- 50% Dextrose
(for low blood sugar); one ampule via IV
Decubitus Ulcer
A bedsore, an open sore caused by pressure and lack of circulation, malnutrition may contribute to these ulcers associated with immobility
Diaphoresis
Sweaty skin associated with myocaridal infarction
Dopamine
Makes heart pump strongly
Epinephrine
Drug to treat cardiac arrest
Failure to progress
Baby is not dropping or the woman's cervix is not dilating; depending on the stage of labor, do C-section or administer Pitocin
FUO
Fever of undetermined origin
Hematocrit ("Crit")
Measure number of RBC; decrease means hemorrhage or anemia in extremis at the point of death
IV Push (intravenous push)
Put in drug directly into IV all at once
Large-bore IV
to transfuse fluids very quickly
Lavage
Washing out
LGFD
Looks Good From Doorway (patient who complains but looks fine)
MI
Myocardial Infarction
MUDPILES
Mnemonic device for anion gap (Methanol, Uremia, Diabetic ketoacidosis, Paraldehyde, Iron, Lactic acidosis, Ethanol, Salicylate starvation). An anion gap will indicate one of of these conditions.
Narcan
Antidote for heroin and other narcotics; 0.8 mg via IV
Normal Saline
Saline solution that has the same balance as fluids in the body -- the first type of fluid administered intravenously (IV) in emergencies
NPO
nil per os, "nothing by mouth" ("Put this patient NPO.")
Perf
Perforate; to burst
PERTL
Pupils equally responsive to light...a neurologic test
Pitocin
Hormone given intravenously to stimulate uterine contractions
Platelets
Blood factors that help blood to clot; reduced platelet count is a contraindication for many surgical procedures, since surgeons rely on the clotting process to keep a patient from bleeding out on the operating table.
Pneumothorax
Collapsed lung; this can be caused by any puncture wound to the chest deeper than an inch or so.
Posterior
The rear plane of the body
Pressure
Blood pressures at arteries, veins, and within the chambers
PROM
Premature Rupture Of Membranes (water broke too early and the unborn baby is at risk for infection)
PW
Phaser wound
Ruptured Aortic Aneurism
Ruptured main artery
Send Him Redline
Send him directly and urgently
Sinus Rhythm
Normal heartbeat
STD
Sexually transmitted disease
Tachycardia
Fast heart rate; normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute
Tension Pneumothorax
Collapsed lung-- usually due to a puncture wound to the chest which forms a connective tissue "valve" in the thoracic wall-- in which air escapes into chest upon inspiration but cannot escape during expiration; increases pressure inside thoracic cavity, in particular on the heart and great vessels, and on the lungs. Tension pneumothorax is an emergent condition because pressure within the thoracic cavity continues to increase with each breath and displaces the lung and mediastinal cavity, which contains many vital organs, nerves, and vessels.
Throat Culture
Test for Streptococcus
Tox Screen
Drug Test
TPR
Temperature/pulse/respiration, the basic diagnostic values for most carbon-based life forms
Type and Cross
Draw blood, type it match with same type for transfusion
V-Tach
HR abnormally high
Vitamin H
Haldol, a very powerful sedating agent for combative people
WADAO
Weak And Dizzy All Over
Walking Time Bomb
Someone with a disease that could be fatal any minute
White Count
WBC; increased count usually indicates infection
WNL
Within Normal Limits
Credits
- Taken from The Los Angeles Times- "Behind the Scenes at ER"
- Compiled by Takako Nagumo, additions by James Bowman