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 | Glossary of Trauma Terms A - G
What Is A...?
Anoxia
- A lack of oxygen which can cause damage to the brain. This can result when blood flow is reduced.
Antibiotic
- Medicine used to treat infections in the blood, urine, lungs and other areas of the body.
Anticoagulation
- Preventing or delaying the clotting of the blood.
Aphasia
- An abnormal neurologic condition in which language function is defective or absent relating to an injury to the cerebral cortex of the brain. The deficiency may be receptive, in which language is not understood. It may be expressive, in which words cannot be formed or expressed. It is sometimes transient, as when the swelling in the brain subsides. Intensive speech therapy by the patient and the patient's family has many times been successful in restoring language function.
Arterial Blood Gas (ABGs or Gases)
- Blood test that determines how well a patient is breathing and how well the lungs are working by measuring the oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH of the blood.
Arterial Line (Art Line)
- A very small tube (catheter) put into an artery so that blood pressure can be measured at all times. Blood can be removed from this catheter for lab testing.
Arteriogram (angiogram)
- An xray of an artery injected with radiopaque contrast (dye) through a catheter.
Basilar Skull Fracture
- Fracture or break at the base of the skull.
Brain Death
- Death caused by complete and irreversible loss of function of the entire brain, including the brain stem. The heart may continue as long as the breathing machine (ventilator is in place, but without the breathing machine, the brain no longer signals the body to breath and the heart soon stops from lack of oxygen.
Catheter
- A hollow, flexible tube that can be inserted into a vessel or cavity of the body to withdraw or instill fluids.
Cervical Collar (C-collar)
- Firm brace worn to support the neck. The main reason your doctor wants you to wear this collar is to limit the movement of the bones in your neck, either to prevent injury or to allow an injury to heal.
CAT or CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography)
- A radiology technique in which a scanner is used to obtain a series of detailed visualizations of tissues, body organs and bones. The procedure is painless, non-invasive and requires no special preparation.
Cast
- A stiff, solid dressing formed with plaster of paris or fiberglass around a limb or other body part to immobilize it during healing.
Chest Tube
- A catheter inserted through the chest wall into the chest cavity for removing air or fluid. It is used following chest surgery or lung collapse.
Colostomy
- A surgical creation of an opening (stoma) on the abdominal wall by cutting the colon and bringing it out to the surface.
Coma
- A state of profound unconsciousness in which a person cannot open eyes, obey commands or speak words that can be understood.
Concussion
- A mild injury to the brain. These injuries are often caused by a blow to the head or a sudden violent motion that causes the brain to bump up against the skull. Also called a traumatic brain injury or closed head injury.
Contusion
- A bruise.
Cultures
- Lab tests to check blood or other body fluids for bacteria in order to identify a pathogen and to determine which antibiotics are effective in combating the infection.
Drain
- A small catheter to remove extra blood/fluid from inside the body.
Edema
- Swelling resulting from an excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissue of the body.
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
- An evaluation of electrical activity of the brain.
EKG (Electrocardiogram)
- Recordings of the electrical activity of the heart used to diagnose specific cardiac abnormalities.
Endotracheal Tube (ET Tube)
- A plastic tube is passed through the mouth or nose into the trachea (windpipe). The tube can be used to deliver extra oxygen to the lungs, to help make breathing easier, and to help with removing fluid from the lungs. The patient cannot talk while this tube is in place.
Extubate
- Removal of the endotracheal tube (ET tube) from the trachea.
Feeding Tube
- Small plastic catheter that goes into the nose to the stomach or intestine to give liquid food when the patient is unable to eat or drink.
Foley Catheter
- Soft rubber catheter that has been placed in the bladder for continuous drainage of urine from the bladder.
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