 | Term | Definition |
| |
ABGs |
arterial blood gases |
| |
AFB |
acid-fast bacillus - the type of organism causing tuberculosis |
| |
ARDS |
acute (formerly adult) respiratory distress syndrome - a group of signs and symptoms including tachypnea, dyspnea, tachycardia, hypoxemia, and cyanosis associated with acute respiratory failure |
| |
BAL |
bronchioalveolar lavage |
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Bronch |
bronchoscopy |
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CO2 |
carbon dioxide |
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COPD |
chronic obstructive pumonary disease - airway obstruction associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis |
| |
CPAP |
continuous positive airway pressure |
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CPR |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
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C&S |
culture and sensitivity |
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CTA |
clear to auscultation |
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CXR |
chest x-ray (film) |
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DLCO |
diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide |
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DOE |
dyspnea on exertion |
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DPI |
dry powder inhaler |
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DPT |
diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus - toxoids for vaccination of infants, to provide immunity to these diseases |
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ERV |
expiratory reserve - maximal volume of gas that can be exhaled after resting volume exhalation |
| |
FEV1 |
forced expiratory volume in 1 second |
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FVC |
forced vital capacity - amount of gas that can be forcibly and rapidly exhaled after a full inspiration |
| |
HHN |
hand-held nebulizer - device for administering aerosolized drug (in fine spray) |
| |
HCO3- |
bicarbonate - measured in blood to determine acidity or alkalinity |
| |
ICU |
intensive care unit |
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IRV |
inspiratory reserve volume - maximum volume of gas that can be inhaled beyond normal resting inspiration |
| |
LLL |
left lower lobe (of lung) |
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LUL |
left upper lobe (of lung) |
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MDI |
metered-dose inhaler - used to deliver aerosolized medications to patients with respiratory disease |
| |
NC |
nasal cannula |
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NIC |
noninvasive ventilation |
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NSCLC |
non-small cell lung cancer |
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O2 |
oxygen |
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OSA |
obstructive sleep apnea |
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Paco2 |
carbon dioxide partial pressure - a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood |
| |
Pao2 |
oxygen partial pressure - a measure of the amount of oxygen in arterial blood |
| |
PA gram |
pulmonary angiogram |
| |
PCP |
Pneumocystis pneumonia - a type of pneumonia seen in patients with AIDS or other immunosuppression |
| |
PE |
pulmonary embolism |
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PEP |
positive expiratory pressure - mechanical ventilator strategy in which patient takes a deep breath and then exhales through a device that resists air flow (helps refill underventilated areas of the lung) |
| |
PEEP |
positive end-expiratory pressure - a common mechanical ventilator setting in which airway pressure is maintained above atmospheric pressure |
| |
PFTs |
pulmonary function tests |
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PND |
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea |
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PPD |
purified protein derivative - substance used in a tuberculosis test |
| |
RDS |
respiratory distress syndrome - in the newborn infant, condition marked by dyspnea and cyanosis and related to absence of surfactant, a substance that permits normal expansion of lungs; also called healine membrane disease |
| |
RLL |
right lower lobe (of lung) |
| |
RSV |
respiratory syncytial virus - a common cause of bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia, and the common cold, especially in children (in tissue culture, forms syncytia or giant cells, so that cytoplasm flows together) |
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RUL |
right upper lobe (of lung) |
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RV |
residual volume - amount of air remaining in lungs at the end of maximal expiration |
| |
SCLC |
small cell lung cancer |
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SIMV |
synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation |
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SOA |
shortness of air |
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SOB |
shortness of breath |
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TB |
tuberculosis |
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TBNA |
transbronchial needle aspiration (for biopsy of lesions) |
| |
TLC |
total lung capacity - volume of gas in the lungs at the end of maximal inspiration; equals VC plus RV |
| |
URI |
upper respiratory infection |
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VT |
tidal volume - amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a normal ventilation |
| |
VAP |
ventilator-associated pneumonia - bacterial pneumonia in a patient who has been on mechanical ventilation of 48 hours or more |
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VATS |
video-assisted thoracic surgery (thoracoscopy or thorascopy) |
| |
VC |
vital capacity - equals inspiratory reserve volume plus expiratory reserve volume plus tidal volume |
| |
V/Q scan |
ventilation-perfusion scan - radioactive test of lung ventilation and blood perfusion throughout the lung capillaries (lung scan) |
