Medical Transcription

Common Abbreviations:

Common Terms: inhaler, ketogenic diet, nebulizer, orthopnea, physiotherapy, pulse oximetry, vest

Medications: albuterol, Atrovent, Flovent

Procedures/Reports: Bronchoscopy with Conscious Sedation, Tracheostomy and Bronchostomy

Links to other sites: Information on Sleep Apnea

Aa gradient (alveolar arterial gradient): It’s the difference between the measured pressure of oxygen in the blood stream and the calculated pressure of oxygen in the alveolar sacs. It can be looked at as a measure of how well oxygen gets from air into blood. The higher the A-a gradient, the more problem there is with oxygen passage into the blood.

Airway evaluation: Tongue vs. Pharyngeal size. The "small mouth". Mallampati class I, II, III or IV.

Class-patient sits upright with head in neutral position, asked to open mouth as wide as possible and protrude tongue as far as possible. Observer classifies airway according to structures seen.

Class I: soft palate, fauces, uvula, anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars.
Class II: soft palate, fauces, uvula (tonsillar pillars obscured by tongue).
Class III: soft palate, base of uvula.
Class IV: soft palate not visible at all.

AO joint extension-patient sits straight with head held erect and facing directly to the front. Patient extend atlanto-occipital joint as much as possible, and the examiner estimates the angle traversed by the occlusal surface of the upper teeth. 35ª of extension are possible at the normal AO joint.

Grade 1: no appreciable reduction of extension
Grade 2: one third reduction in extension
Grade 3: two thirds reduction in extension
Grade 4: no appreciable extension

The "anterior" larynx / no chin, Hyomental Distance-in cm, the space anterior to the larynx. An HMD of at least 6 cm suggests direct laryngoscopy will be relatively easy.

Cervical spine mobility.

Anterior mandibular space

basal lamella: lamellar support structure for the nasal turbinate, originating from the lateral nasal wall.

brachial plexus: n : a complex network of nerves that is formed chiefly by the lower four cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve, lies partly within the axilla, and supplies nerves to the chest, shoulder, and arm .

cupola: 1. The little dome at apex of cochlea and of spiral canal. 2. The portion of costal pleura which extends superiorly into the root of the neck. It is dome shaped and accommodates the apex of the lung. 3. oxygen cupola

nosocomial pneumonia

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, CPAP

Toomey syringe: nasal irrigation.

VQ scan: Lung Scan ( Ventilation / Perfusion or VQ Scan ) A lung scan is used to determine the cause of shortness of breath or chest pain.