DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS

Airway Pressure means the pressure created during airway ventilation. Positive airway pressure is created when ventilating a patient through BVM, CPAP, a supraglottic device, or an endotracheal tube.

Consider means an optional, but not required, step, procedure, or medication.  In the context of a treatment guideline, the intervention may be appropriate for some patients, but not for others.  Paramedics may consult with BioTel to determine the specific conditions under which they should implement a treatment consideration.

Delirium means an acute state of altered mental status, presumed to be caused by an organic (not psychiatric) condition, until proven otherwise. It differs from dementia, which is a slower, chronic alteration of mentation.

ECG Monitoring means continuous, 3-lead, electrocardiographic monitoring (a.k.a. “EKG Monitoring”).  This is neither the same as nor a substitute for a 12-lead ECG when the latter is clinically indicated.

Emergency Detention means an arrest made by a peace officer in which the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the subject arrested is an immediate threat to him/herself or others and requires mental health services. (This replaces “APOWW” – Arrest by a Peace Office Without a Warrant.)

Endotracheal Intubation Attempt means the passage of an endotracheal tube past the patient’s teeth.

ePCR means the electronic Patient Care Report.  If an electronic PCR is unavailable, a paper PCR may be substituted.

ETCO2 Monitoring means continuous, waveform capnography monitoring of end-tidal CO2 (a.k.a. “Capnography”, “Waveform Capnography”).

High-risk Pregnancy/Delivery means a pre-term delivery, breech presentation, multiple births, meconium staining, placenta previa, placental abruption, prolapsed cord, nuchal cord, preeclampsia, eclampsia, maternal drug abuse, or lack of prenatal care.

Intrathoracic Pressure means the pressure created within the thoracic pressure during inhalation and exhalation. Positive intrathoracic pressure is created when providing assisted ventilation, or when there is abnormal air or fluid within the thoracic cavity (e.g. pneumothorax). Excessive positive intrathoracic pressure results in diminished ability to inflate the lungs, and also compresses the structures of the mediastinum, reducing venous return and cardiac output.

Oxygenation means the delivery to and enrichment of cells and tissues with oxygen.  Sick or injured patients may require treatment for abnormalities of oxygenation, ventilation, or both of these separate-but-related processes. Excessive over-supplementation with high-flow oxygen may be harmful in certain clinical conditions.

Pediatric means anyone who has not reached his/her 14th birthday.  For legal considerations, such as the right to give consent or to refuse treatment, a pediatric patient is anyone who has not reached his or her 18th birthday.  For cardiac arrest and defibrillation, a pediatric means anyone who has not reached his/her 8th birthday. Unless otherwise specified, treatment guidelines and standing orders apply to both adults and children.

Perfusion means the delivery of oxygen to end-organs through the bloodstream. Hypoperfusion means abnormally decreased perfusion and is a critical feature of shock.

POC Glucose means a point-of-care blood glucose analysis using a portable glucometer (a.k.a. “D-stick”, “fingerstick blood glucose”, “capillary blood glucose”).

Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) means the return of a palpable pulse following resuscitation efforts.

Shock means a severe state of hypoperfusion, arising from a variety of causes, including cardiac emergencies (obstruction to blood flow and pump failure), hypovolemia (both hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic), sepsis, and neurological conditions.

SpCO Measurement/Monitoring means carbon monoxide (CO) co-oximetry measurement/monitoring.

SpO2 Monitoring means continuous pulse oximetry monitoring (a.k.a. “Pulse Ox”, “Pulse Ox monitoring”, “Pulse Oximetry”).

Supraglottic Airway (SGA) means a device inserted into the supraglottic structures to indirectly oxygenate and ventilate a patient, without intubating the trachea. It is considered a type of Advanced Airway.

Ventilation means the mechanical transfer of air or oxygen from the outside environment into the airways, and the transfer of carbon dioxide from the body to the outside environment. Ventilation may occur spontaneously (driven by normal physiology), or artificially (driven by an outside entity, as when an EMS provider delivers a breath using BVM or other assisted ventilation modality).