Your guide for understanding basic acronyms and medical jargon used in the ICU

Information on this page is meant to help you understand what acronyms and medical jargon mean in plain terms. To learn more about if or how they relate specifically to your child, talk to your child’s medical team.

Anoxia / Anoxic lack of oxygen

Apnea / Apneic stopped breathing

Atrophy damage

BID twice a day

BMP Basic Metabolic Panel, a basic blood test that measures the body’s fluid and electrolytes, glucose levels (sugar) and kidney function

Bradycardia / Bradycardic low heart rate

CBC Complete Blood Count, a blood test that evaluates blood counts

CICU Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

CMP Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, more detailed blood test than the BMP and measures several things include glucose, electrolytes, and other levels that monitor kidney and liver function

CT Computed tomography, AKA CAT scan, uses x-rays from various angles to create images of the inside of the body

Desat short for desaturation and means that oxygen levels are dropping

DNI Do not intubate

DNR Do not resuscitate

EEG Electroencephalogram, a test that measures electrical brain activity and is often used to monitor for seizures, includes stickers on head hooked up to a monitor

ECG/EKG Electrocardiogram, a test that measures electrical heart activity, includes stickers on chest and abdomen, typically done bedside

Feeding Tube tube that allows for nutrition to enter the body in a tube through the stomach, mouth, or nose; includes g-tube, j-tube, g/j tube, ng/nj/nd tube, og/oj tube

FEN/GI Fluids, Electrolytes, Nutrition/Gastrointestinal

Foley Catheter used to drain urine from the bladder

ICP Intercranial pressure

Ins and Outs/”I”s and “O”s refers to how much fluid/nutrition enters the body, and how much the body releases (waste)

Leads lines used the check vital signs are often referred to as leads and include 3-4 stickers typically placed on the chest and abdomen

MRA Magnetic Resonance Angiography, uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of blood vessels in the body

MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of body organs and tissue

MRV Magnetic Resonance Venography, uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of veins in the body

NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NPO nothing by mouth

Oxygen Saturation, o2, SpO2% amount of oxygen in your red blood cells, measured with a pulse ox

PICC peripherally inserted central catheter; a thin line inserted into a vein in the arm and threaded close to the heart; used to administer medication or nutrition; can reduce the amount of needle sticks during hospital stay

PICU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

PRN as needed

Q every (may refer to medication or intervention and will be typically followed by a number. Ex: Q2 means “every two hours”)

RBC red blood count

Respiratory Rate rate of breathing

Stoma opening in the body  

Tachycardia/Tachycardic rapid or fast heart rate 

Takipnea/Takipnik rapid or fast respiratory rate (breathing rate) 

TID three times a day

TPN Total Parenteral Nutrition; liquid nutrition administered via a vein (typically through a PICC line) and bypassing the digestive system 

Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body

WAT score Withdrawal Assessment Tool; a point system to assess and score symptoms of withdrawal

WBC white blood count

X-Ray electromagnetic radiation used to see images of the body’s bones, tissues, and organs