05/26/2007

Informative Post explaining medical jargon -

JARGON
1. Nonsensical, incoherent, or meaningless talk.
2. Speech or writing having unusual or pretentious vocabulary, convoluted phrasing, and vague meaning.

NITRIC OXIDE: NO is a free radical, produced by the endothelium that, when inhaled, relaxes vascular smooth muscle and works as a vasodilator.

VASODILATOR: Medication that causes the blood vessels to dilate or expand.

PCO2: Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide (the amount of carbon dioxide gas dissolved in the blood).

OXYGENATION: Oxygenation refers to the amount of oxygen in a medium; i.e. person.

OXYGEN SATURATION: Oxygen saturation is a relative measure of the amount of oxygen that is dissolved or carried in a given medium; i.e. person.

ROP: Retinopathy of prematurity - If an infant is born prematurely, with the retinal blood vessel development incomplete, problems occur. Abnormal blood vessels may develop which can subsequently lead to bleeding and scar tissue formation. This may then stretch the retina pulling it out of position. Visual loss may result.

BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA: The lungs of the babies who are born with RDS (respiratory distress syndrome) and go on to develop BPD are less developed than those of babies with RDS who recover. They usually have fewer and larger alveoli, or air sacs, than other newborns. They also may have fewer tiny blood vessels in the alveoli. The blood vessels are needed to move oxygen from the alveoli into the bloodstream.

CHILI CHEESE FRIES: A tasty side dish consisting of fried potatoes covered with chili (a southwestern stew of tomatoes, spices, beans, and ground beef) and cheese ( a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals by curdling milk). This is served warm.