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CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERS; CENTRAL LINE CVP; PICC LINE A "Central Venous Catheter" or Central IV is an intravenous catheter that is inserted into a large vein close to the right side of the heart. These catheters are inserted percutaneously ("cutaneous" means skin, "per" means through). The most...

ECG; EKG; ELECTROCARDIOGRAM The heart produces an electrical signal. This signal can be picked up by placing small metal electrodes on the surface of the skin and measuring the electrical current that is flowing toward the electrode. This electrical picture of the heart's activity is called an...

LIFE SUPPORT The term life-support is used to describe any treatment that supports or replaces a necessary body function. Life-support therapies include any treatments that are required to keep the patient alive. Life-support is initiated with the expectation that the patient will improve and no...

Substitute Decision Maker Because critically ill patients are often unable to speak for themselves, we need to identify a Substitute Decision Maker. The selection of a Substitute Decision Maker is guided by the Health Care Consent Act. A Substitute Decision Maker is appointed according to the...

There may come a point in time when we realize that a patient is too ill to survive or that the quality of the patient's recovery would not be considered acceptable to the patient. If continued life-support is not be in keeping with the patient's best interests or prior expressed wishes, the...

STROKE A stroke is caused by a loss of blood flow to an area of the brain. When the blood flow is disrupted for a long enough period of time, an area of brain tissue will die. This damage is permanent, and will cause a loss of function that corresponds to the area of injury. The degree of disability...

CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP) POSITIVE END EXPIRATORY AIRWAY PRESSURE (PEEP) The alveoli are the terminal segments of the airway . Certain types of lung disease can cause areas of alveoli to collapse. Fluid that collects around the lung is one common reason for alveolar closure. When...

WEAN; WEANING Weaning is a word that is sometimes used to describe the gradual removal of a treatment. By slowly decreasing the amount of support, we can observe the patients response and readjust the treatment if required. The term weaning is used most frequently to describe a gradual reduction in...

SEDATIVES Sedatives are drugs that help to reduce anxiety. At higher doses, they promote sleepiness. They may also help people to forget uncomfortable experiences within the critical care environment. Patients may need sedatives to slow down a fast breathing rate or to make it easier to breath for...

ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE; ETT " Endotracheal " means "through the trachea". It is a term that describes a breathing tube that is inserted through the windpipe or trachea. It is commonly called an ETT or ET tube. An endotracheal tube is an example of an artificial airway. A tracheostomy is another type of...