Key Terms

acute kidney injury (AKI)

sudden reduction in kidney function, usually related to another underlying condition or cause

acute respiratory failure (ARF)

sudden failure of the lungs and respiratory system, resulting in hypoxemia and hypercapnia

arterial catheter

small, flexible catheter that is inserted into an artery and connected to monitoring equipment to reflect continuous blood pressure measurements

brain death

cessation of brain function due to irreversible brain damage that makes it impossible for the patient to remain alive without life-sustaining therapy

cardiac output

amount of blood that the heart ejects from the left ventricle each minute

contractility

strength of the cardiac muscles during a contraction

esophageal varices

small veins that form as collateral circulation in the presence of portal hypertension

extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

use of invasive equipment to serve as an artificial heart and lungs, allowing these organs to rest and heal

hematemesis

blood in the vomit

hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI)

pressure ulcers that are acquired during an inpatient hospital stay, most often related to pressure from medical devices or prolonged immobility

intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)

balloon pump inserted in the aorta that inflates during diastole to push blood into the coronary arteries and deflates during systole to push blood to the rest of the body.

intubation

insertion of an artificial breathing tube into the airway to maintain patency and restore an effective breathing pattern, often with use of a mechanical ventilator

melena

presence of partially digested blood in the stool

multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)

syndrome often experienced by critical care patients that involves dysfunction of two or more body systems

muscle atrophy

severe loss of muscle mass, most often due to prolonged immobilization or malnutrition

myocardial infarction (MI)

occlusion of perfusion to the heart within the coronary arteries, resulting in eventual cardiac muscle death; also known as a “heart attack”

necrosis

tissue death

nephrotoxic

capable of causing renal damage

pulse pressure

difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures

vasoactive medication

medication that exerts its effect on blood vessels

vasopressors

medications that improve blood pressure and organ perfusion by constricting blood vessels