A Guiding Hand for Families in NICU and Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 92
Glossary
Common words you’re likely to hear in the NICU and SCN,
including explaining who’s who in the units.
Acidosis: A condition where there
is excessive acid in the blood; it can
affect how organs function.
Apgar score: A numerical scoring
system, usually applied at one and
five minutes after the birth of all
newborn babies. This is to evaluate
the condition of the baby based on
heart rate, respiration, muscle tone
and colour. The score is used by the
doctor and nurse to determine if the
baby needs assistance.
Alveoli: Tiny sacs in the lungs where
oxygen and carbon dioxide are
exchanged with the bloodstream.
Apnoea: The temporary stopping
of breathing by the baby for 20
seconds or more.
Anaemia: Below-normal levels of
haemoglobin (red blood cells) in
the blood. In premature babies,
anaemia can cause breathing
problems, low energy and poor
growth.
Apnoea monitor: A monitor that is
connected to the baby with a sensor
to specifically detect apnoea.
A
Absorb: The body’s ability to take in,
or incorporate back into the body,
fluid or food.
Local anaesthetic: A drug used to
bring on the loss of sensation (and
pain) in many medical and surgical
procedures.
General anaesthetic (GA): A drug
given to cause unconsciousness.
Administered by a specially trained
doctor called an anaesthetist.
Antibiotics: Drugs used to fight
off bacterial infection. They have
names like penicillin, flucloxacillin,
vancomycin and gentamicin.
Aorta: The artery leading from the
heart that supplies oxygenated
blood to the body.
Arterial blood gas (arterial stick):
A sample of blood taken from
an artery to measure its oxygen,
carbon dioxide and acid content.
Arterial catheter (Indwelling
arterial catheter): A thin plastic
tube placed in an artery to
withdraw blood for testing and to
measure blood pressure.
Artery: Any blood vessel leading
away from the heart. Arteries carry
oxygenated blood to the body
tissue. The exception being the
pulmonary artery which carries nonoxygenated blood to the lungs from
the heart.
Asphyxia: A lack of oxygen and high
carbon dioxide level in the blood
and tissues.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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