Chapter 40

Question 0

12-lead ECG

Answer 0

An ECG that uses 12 leads attached to the patient’s skin; these include the limb leads and chest leads.

Question 1

4-lead ECG

Answer 1

An ECG that uses 4 leads attached to the patient’s skin; these include the limb leads.

Question 2

access port

Answer 2

A sealed hub on an administration set designed for sterile access to the intravenous fluid.

Question 3

arrhythmia

Answer 3

An abnormal rhythm of the heart, sometimes called an arrhythmia.

Question 4

asystole

Answer 4

The complete absence of any electrical cardiac activity, appearing as a straight or almost straight line on an ECG strip.

Question 5

cardiac monitoring

Answer 5

The act of viewing the electrical activity of the heart through the use of an ECG machine or cardiac monitor.

Question 6

catheter

Answer 6

A flexible, hollow structure that drains or delivers fluids.

Question 7

catheter shear

Answer 7

The cutting of the catheter by the needle during improper rethreading of the catheter with the needle; the severed piece can then enter the circulatory system.

Question 8

chest leads

Answer 8

The leads that are used only with a 12-lead ECG and must be placed exactly; includes leads V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

Question 9

Combitube

Answer 9

A multilumen airway device that consists of a single tube with two lumens, two balloons, and two ventilation ports; an alternative airway device if endotracheal intubation is not possible or has failed.

Question 10

drip chamber

Answer 10

The area of the administration set where fluid accumulates so that the tubing remains filled with fluid.

Question 11

drip sets

Answer 11

Another name for administration sets.

Question 12

ECG

Answer 12

Electrocardiogram; an electronic tracing of the heart’s electrical activity through leads, which originate in the electrograph machine and contain electrodes that attach to the patient’s chest and/or limbs.

Question 13

electrical conduction system

Answer 13

A network of special cells in the heart through which an electrical current flows, causing contractions of the heart that produce pumping of blood.

Question 14

endotracheal intubation

Answer 14

Insertion of an endotracheal tube directly through the larynx between the vocal cords and into the trachea to maintain and protect an airway.

Question 15

end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors

Answer 15

Plastic, disposable indicators that signal by color change when an endotracheal tube is in the proper place.

Question 16

external jugular IV

Answer 16

IV access established in the external jugular vein of the neck.

Question 17

extubation

Answer 17

Removal of a tube after it has been placed.

Question 18

gastric tube

Answer 18

An advanced airway adjunct that provides a channel directly into a patient’s stomach, allowing for removal of gas, blood, and toxins and for instilling medications and nutrition.

Question 19

gauge

Answer 19

A measure of the interior diameter of the cathether. It is inversely proportional to the true diameter of the catheter.

Question 20

infiltration

Answer 20

The escape of fluid into the surrounding tissue when the IV catheter is not in the vein.

Question 21

intraossious (IO) needles

Answer 21

Rigid, boring catheters placed into a bone to provide intravenous fluids.

Question 22

isotonic crystalloids

Answer 22

Intravenous solutions that do not cause a fluid shift into or out of the cell; examples include normal saline and lactated Ringer’s solutions.

Question 23

King LT

Answer 23

A disposal supraglottic airway used as an alternative to tracheal or mask ventilation.

Question 24

laryngeal mask airway

Answer 24

An advanced airway device that is blindly inserted into the mouth to isolate the larynx for direct ventilation; consists of a tube and a mask or cuff that inflates to seal around the laryngeal opening.

Question 25

laryngoscope

Answer 25

An instrument used to give a direct view of the patient’s vocal cords during endotracheal intubation.

Question 26

limb leads

Answer 26

The four leads used with a 4-lead ECG; placed on or close to the right arm, left arm, right leg, and left leg.

Question 27

macrodrip set

Answer 27

An administration set named for the large orifice between the piercing spike and the drip chamber; allows for rapid fluid flow into the vascular system.

Question 28

microdrip set

Answer 28

An administration set named for the small orifice between the piercing spike and the drip chamber; allows for carefully controlled fluid flow and is ideally suited for medication administration.

Question 29

multilumen airways

Answer 29

Advanced airway devices, such as the esophageal tracheal Combitube and the pharyngeotracheal lumen airway, that have multiple tubes to aid in ventilation and will work whether placed in the trachea or esophagus.

Question 30

normal sinus rhythm

Answer 30

A rhythm that has consistent P waves, consistent P-R intervals, and a regular heart rate of between 60 and 100 beats/minute.

Question 31

occlusion

Answer 31

Blockage, usually of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel.

Question 32

orotracheal intubation

Answer 32

Endotracheal intubation through the mouth.

Question 33

pharyngeotracheal lumen airway

Answer 33

A multilumen airway that consists of two tubes, two masks, and a bite block.

Question 34

phlebitis

Answer 34

Inflammation of a vein; often associated with a clot in the vein.

Question 35

piercing spike

Answer 35

The hard, sharpened plastic spike on the end of the administration set designed to pierce the sterile membrane of the intravenous bag.

Question 36

proximal tibia

Answer 36

Anatomic location for intraosseous catheter insertion; the wide portion of the tibia located directly below the knee.

Question 37

saline locks (buff caps)

Answer 37

Special types of intravenous apparatus, also called heparin caps and heparin locks.

Question 38

sinus bradycardia

Answer 38

A rhythm that has consistent P waves, consistent P-R intervals, and a regular heart rate that is less than 60 beats/minute.

Question 39

sinus rhythm

Answer 39

A rhythm in which the sinoatrial node acts as the pacemaker.

Question 40

sinus tachycardia

Answer 40

A rhythm that has consistent P waves, consistent P-R intervals and a regular heart rate that is more than 100 beats/minute.

Question 41

STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction)

Answer 41

Elevation of the ST segment of the 12-lead EKG that is likely evidence that the patient is having a heart attack.

Question 42

stylet

Answer 42

A plastic-coated wire that gives added rigidity and shape to the endotracheal tube.

Question 43

systemic complication

Answer 43

A moderate to severe complication affecting the systems of the body; after administration of medications, the reaction might be systemic.

Question 44

ventricular fibrillation

Answer 44

A rapid, completely disorganized ventricular rhythm with chaotic characteristics, no specific pattern, and no discernible P, QRS, or T waves.

Question 45

ventricular tachycardia

Answer 45

The presence of three or more abnormal ventricular complexes in a row with a rate of more than 100 beats/minute.