Glossary

General Terms

  • Alveoli
    • Tiny air sacs in the lungs that allow for gas exchange (removal of carbon dioxide, absorption of oxygen).
  • Antibiotics
    • Drugs that get rid of different bacteria bugs that cause infections.
    • Empiric Therapy
      • Based on evidence and experience using antibiotics which kill many types of bugs but the exact bug is not yet identified.
  • Antibodies
    • Proteins in your immune system that protect your body by recognizing foreign matter (e.g. microorganisms (bugs) and infected cells) and working to rid them from your system.
  • Aspirates
    • The amount and color of secretions or milk in the baby’s stomach when the nurse draws back on the nasal-stomach tube (usually before the next feed is due).
  • Bilirubin
    • A normal product of old or broken down red cells. When too much accumulates outside of the red blood cells, it is called hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice).
  • Blood Gases
    • Measurements of oxygen, carbon dioxide and level of acidity in the blood.
  • Blood Pressure
    • The pressure of blood flow in the blood vessels – can be normal, high or low.
  • Bronchiolitis
    • Lower respiratory tract infection that causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchioles. Risk period is December to April each year. Occurs in children <2 years old. Very premature babies are at risk.
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
    • Emergency chest compressions and manual breaths with a mask or tube with or without intravenous epinephrine/adrenalin. Maintains oxygen to the brain and heart when a baby collapses, goes into shock, or has a cardiac arrest.
  • Cerebrovascular
    • Referring to the vasculature (blood vessels) of the brain.
  • Circulation (Refer to Neonatal Circulation)
    • Aorta
      • Main blood vessel carrying oxygenated (red) blood to the body
    • Pulmonic
      • Take deoxygenated (blue) blood returning from the body back to the lungs to pick up oxygen.  The newly oxygenated blood goes back to the heart to be delivered to the body (via aorta).
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC)
    • Blood test that measures the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet count. In addition it measures the haemoglobin (the protein that allows oxygen to attach to red blood cells).
  • Corrected Age (aka Adjusted age)    
    • The age of a premature baby, as determined by how long they have been alive (regular age) plus the period of gestation they have been in the womb. Often used until infants are 40 weeks corrected.
  • Culture
    • Growing a microorganism (bug) on a test dish  in a lab to determine whether a bacterial infection is causing the health issues, and if so, which specific microorganism.
  • Desaturation
    • A drop in blood oxygen level.
  • Donor Breast Milk
    • Milk Banks can supply hospitals with breast milk if the mother is unable to breastfeed. Donor milk can provide premature infants in need with the proper nutrients and
  • Electrolytes
    • Minerals (sodium, potassium etc.) present in the blood with electric charge. Their presence and proper balance is important for executing bodily functions (e.g. muscle use, digestion, water balnce, etc.).
  • Elimination
    • A process by which substances (drugs, proteins, etc.) are removed from or deactivated in the body, through liver, kidneys or gut.
  • Express Breast Milk (Pumping)
    • Collecting breast milk from the mother through manual pumping, or an electric pump. For further details and storage information see here.
  • Facilitated Tucking
    • A safe method of connecting with a premature baby through touch without over stimulating them. For more information see here.
  • Fetal Circulation 
    • The fetal circulation uses the mother’s placenta as the source for oxygen and nutrients, and the way to rid of waste. The heart in particular is different through the presence of a patent (open) foramen ovale and patent (open) ductus arteriosus, which allow the baby to circulate oxygenated blood without the active use of their lungs. See the term Neonatal Circulation to understand how the baby transitions to regular circulation following birth.

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Source: Stanford Children's Health. (n.d.). Blood Circulation in the Fetus and Newborn. Retrieved November 19, 2017, from http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=blood-circulation-in-the-fetus-and-newborn-90-P02362

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) System
    • Refers to the structures in the body involved with digestion, absorption, and excretion.
  • Glucose
    • Simple sugars present in food sources that are needed in the body for energy production. Insulin hormone helps to regulate the amount of glucose present in the body so that there is a balance between the glucose being stored and that available for use .
  • Group B Strep infections (GBS)
  • Heart Rate
    • The speed at which the heart is contracting, measured in beats per minute.
  • Hematochezia
    • Blood present in stool.
  • Hemolysis
    • A normal or an excessive breakdown of red blood cells.
  • Hyaline Membrane Disease 
    • See RDS for details.
  • Hydrocephalus
    • Occurs when there is way too much of the brain and spinal fluid present. The fluid normally acts as protective cushion for the brain. May occur from a prior brain hemorrhage.
  • Hypertension
    • Abnormally high blood pressure.
  • Infection
    • When disease-causing agents (microorganisms (bugs), viruses, etc.) invade the tissues of the body. Depending on degree of spread and the type of agent, an infection may cause or have active clinical symptoms.
  • Inflammation
    • Repair cells, which are activated when tissue is the affected area to become swollen, and/or painful. Often is for good repair but can cause malfunction if it involves the heart, lungs or circulation.
  • Infusion Pump
    • Regulating device attached to the IV line to maintain a steady amount of fluid entering a baby’s bloodstream.
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) or Brain Bleed
    • See IVH for details.
  • Invasive vs Non- Invasive
    • Procedures or management/treatment that break the skin or disrupt what’s beneath (e.g. the body cavity) beyond the natural or artificial body openings are invasive. Those which do not are considered non-invasive.
  • Ischemia
    • Tissue injury as a result of poor oxygen supply.
  • Kangaroo Care
    • Skin to skin contact between parent and child, when the baby is stable enough to handle such stimulation. See here for further details.
  • Lanugo
    • Very fine, soft hair often present on premature infant bodies.
  • Meconium
    • The first bowel movement (dark green), often passed within  the first day of life.
  • Muscle tone
    • The ever-present partial contraction of muscle in the body from the muscles remaining somewhat tensed even when they’re not being used.
    • Hypertonia
      • When there is too much muscle tone causing stiffness and difficulty moving.
    • Hypotonia
      • When there is too little muscle tone (e.g. floppy baby) causing muscle weakness.
  • Neonatal Circulation
    • When the placenta and baby exit the womb, the placenta can no longer provide the baby with the nutrients and oxygen it needs, so the baby detaches from the placenta, and breathes in air. The breathing activates its lungs in order to provide oxygen to the body and rid of carbon dioxide. The ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale close shortly after the baby exits the womb in order to allow proper neonatal circulation to occur. When these structures do not close properly issues such as murmurs or PDA can occur.

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Source: OpenStax, Anatomy & Physiology. OpenStax CNX. Feb 26, 2016 http://cnx.org/contents/14fb4ad7-39a1-4eee-ab6e-3ef2482e3e22@8.24.

(For Full Text: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/14fb4ad7-39a1-4eee-ab6e-3ef2482e3e22@8.24.)

  • Neonatal Period
    • Initial 28 days of life.
  • Nosocomial Infections
    • Invasive disease agents acquired due to the patient being in hospital.
  • Ototoxic
    • Toxic to the ear. Some medications are potentially ototoxic, and may have a negative impact on hearing.
  • Oxygen Levels
    • The amount of oxygen in blood.
    • Often measured during a blood gas test (see term Blood Gases) to determine how well someone is breathing.
  • Pneumonia
    • An infection of the lungs.
  • Pulmonary Interstial Emphysema (PIE), Pneumomediastinum, Pnemothorax
    • See Air Leaks for details
      • PIE: collection of gas outside the normal air spaces.
      • Pneumomediastinum: abnormal collection of gas in the centre of the chest.
      • Pneumothorax: abnormal collection of gas between the lung and chest wall; a collapsed lung.
  • Prognosis
    • The health outcome(s) based on the likely course of an illness.
  • Red Blood Cells (RBC)
    • Cells in the blood that carry oxygen around the body.
  • Red Light Reflex
    • The reddish reflection of light from the eyes; often examined to help rule out diseases of the eye, such as retinoblastoma.
  • Reflux
    • Upward movement of stomach contents to the esophagus and/or mouth.
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) disease 
    • A viral infection of the lungs and breathing passages which cause bronchiolitis (see term Bronchiolitis).
  • Rounds
    • The act of seeing and assessing patients in the hospital and discussing their management; often involving doctors, nurses, dieticians, respiratory therapists, parents, and other team members.
  • Sepsis
    • A life-threatening illness caused by your body’s response to an infection.
  • Septic Shock 
    • A severe form of sepsis, in which there is organ dysfunction as well as low blood pressure.
  • Spells, Pausing
  • Stroking
    • To move one’s hand over a surface, often repeatedly. Can be stressful to premature infants as it may overstimulate them. Facilitated tucking should be used instead.
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    • Occurs when blood leaks in between two layers on the outside of the brain. 
  • Surfactant
    • A substance in the lungs which makes it easier for the lungs to expand.
    • Can start to be produced in the lungs as early as 20 weeks gestation, but its production increases during the final stages of pregnancy. Premature infants may not have very much because their lungs are underdeveloped, and consequently they may get Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). If so they may need surfactant replacement as a medical treatment.
  • Thermoregulation
    • The process of maintaining one’s core body temperature.
  • Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
    • A method of feeding that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract; fluids and nutrients are given directly into the bloodstream.
  • Trophic Feeding
    • The process of giving small volumes of feeds to stimulate the development of the GI tract.
  • Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI)
    • An infection that involves the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses, pharynx, and/or larynx).
  • Vernix
    • The waxy coating on the skin of newborn babies, which acts as a moisturizer, helps lubricate the baby during delivery, protects the baby from infection and helps them better regulate their temperature.
  • X-ray
    • A test that produces images of the structures inside the body.

Procedures

See here for common procedures.

  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)
    • A test that detects electrical activity in the brain.
  • Echocardiogram (Echo)
    • A type of ultrasound used to visualize the different parts of the heart.
  • Endotracheal Suctioning
    • The suctioning of secretions in the airway with an endotracheal tube in place.
  • Extubated
    • The removal of a tube from the airway.
  • Intubated
    • The insertion of a tube into the airway for ventilation.
  • Lumbar Puncture
    • A procedure to collect fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid).
    • A needle is often inserted into the lower spinal area, and then a small amount of fluid is collected (spinal tap).
  • Transfusion
    • The process of inserting blood or blood products into one’s bloodstream through an intravenous line.
  • Ultrasound
    • An imaging technique to visualize different parts of the body using ultrasound waves.
  • Umbilical Artery Catheterization (UAC)
    • A catheter inserted into the umbilical artery, is often used to monitor blood pressure, and take blood from an infant.
  • Umbilical Vein Catheterization (UVC)
    • A catheter inserted into the umbilical vein, often used to give fluids and/or medications.

Medications

See here for common medications.

  • Artificial Surfactant
    • A man-made form of surfactant (see term Surfactant). May be used for treatment of RDS.
  • Caffeine
    • Used to stimulate baby’s breathing - to remind their immature lungs and brain to breathe.
  • Iron
    • Would be given 2-3 weeks after birth, therefore it is not a common medication in the first 72 hours.
    • Premature infants are at a higher risk for becoming iron deficient, partly because they have smaller iron stores in their body.
    • Giving iron helps to prevent or treat this iron deficiency.
  • Probiotics
    • A microorganism that is introduced into the body for its favorable qualities; often used in premature infants to help prevent NEC.
  • Vitamin K
    • A type of vitamin that is commonly given to infants to help prevent a rare bleeding disease of newborns.

Common Issues

Equipment 

See here for common equipment.

  • Catheter
    • A flexible tube inserted into a body cavity.
  • CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
    • A machine used to help keep one’s airway open, so they can breathe easier on their own.
  • BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)
    • A machine with two levels of positive pressure, used to support breathing.
  • Endotracheal Tube (ETT)
    • A small tube inserted into the trachea by the mouth or nose to maintain an open airway.
    • Also known as a breathing tube.
  • Fine Gavage Tubes
    • Nasogastric (NG) tube
      • A feeding tube that goes from one’s nose down into their stomach. This may be used when an individual is unable to feed by mouth, but are still ready to digest food in their stomach and intestines.
    • Orogastric (OG) tube
      • A feeding tube that goes from one’s mouth down to their stomach.
  • Incubator
    • A plastic casing that helps to prevent changes in a newborn’s body temperature, and provides arm holes for minimal disturbance to this environment.
  • Intravenous (IV) Lines
    • A catheter placed inside of a vein, used to deliver fluids and medications to the body.
  • Nebulizer
    • A machine used to turn medication into a mist that can be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Oxygen Hood
    • A plastic dome with oxygen inside, placed over the baby’s head.
  • Peripheral Intravenous Lines (PIV)
    • A short catheter placed into a vein in a hand, arm, or leg.
  • Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) aka Percutaneous silastic catheters (Perc) lines
    • A long catheter inserted into an individual’s arm, leg or neck, which extends into a large vein that carries blood directly to the heart.
  • Ventilator (Respirator)
    • A machine used to help inflate one’s lungs so they can get enough oxygen to supply their body.