22 Learn about the medical terms use in Pre-hospital Emergency Care. terms
This glossary will indicate the name, the definition, the translation in French and a small example.
Alkalosis
noun
Alkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base (alkali). This is the opposite of excess acid (acidosis).
Example: Therefore, the detection of respiratory alkalosis may represent an important diagnostic clue to more serious illness.
en: alcalose
Asystole
noun
Asystole is also known as flatline. It is a state of cardiac standstill with no cardiac output and no ventricular depolarization, as shown in the image below; it eventually occurs in all dying patients.
Example: Of patients presenting with ventricular fibrillation or asystole there was a trend toward improved outcome with ITD, but the differences did not reach significance.
en: asystolie
Backboard
noun
A board placed beneath the body of a person with an injury to the neck or back, used especially in transporting the person in such a way as to avoid further injury.
Example: She pulled her knees to her chest and leaned against the backboard.
en: planche spinale
Bandage
noun
A strip of material used to bind a wound or to protect an injured part of the body.
Example: She'd tried to change the bandage on her own.
en: bandage
Blood
noun
Blood is a constantly circulating fluid providing the body with nutrition, oxygen, and waste removal. Blood is mostly liquid, with numerous cells and proteins suspended in it, making blood "thicker" than pure water.
Example: Blood is thicker than water.
en: sang
Bradycardia
noun
Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate. The hearts of adults at rest usually beat between 60 and 100 times a minute. If you have bradycardia, your heart beats fewer than 60 times a minute.
Example: Thirty seconds after the injection of suxamethonium, the patient developed a bradycardia and suffered cardiac arrest.
en: bradycardie
Cerebrovascular accident
noun
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the medical term for a stroke. A stroke is when blood flows to a part of your brain is stopped either by a blockage or the rupture of a blood vessel.
en: accident vasculaire cérébrale
Cervical collar
noun
A cervical collar, also known as a neck brace, is a medical device used to support a person's neck. It is also applied by emergency personnel to those who have had traumatic head or neck injuries, and can be used to treat chronic medical conditions.
Example: It might be a good idea to include a cervical collar in the rescue kit.
en: collet cervicale
Combitube
noun
Also known as the esophageal tracheal airway or esophageal tracheal double-lumen airway, is a blind insertion airway device used in the Pre-hospital and emergency setting. It is designed to provide an airway to facilitate the mechanical ventilation of a patient in respiratory distress.
Example: The Combitube has proved to be a valuable device for securing the airway in cases of difficult intubation.
en: combitube
Convulsion
noun
A sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children.
Example: Ordinary doses have no effect upon the temperature but in overdose the temperature rises during a convulsion.
en: convulsion
Defibrillator
noun
An apparatus used to control heart fibrillation by application of an electric current to the chest wall or heart.
Example: A permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator is sometimes needed to regulate the child's heart rhythm.
en: défibrillateur
Disinfection
noun
Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects. In health-care settings, objects usually are disinfected by liquid chemicals or wet pasteurization.
Example: Smaller quantities are used for disinfection and other purposes.
en: désinfection
ECG
noun
An electrocardiogram, abbreviated as ECG, is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat.
Example: His vital signs were monitored and an ECG revealed a sinus bradycardia with the presence of J waves.
en: ECG, électrocardiogramme
Glucose meter
noun
A glucose meter, also referred to as a "glucometer", is a medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood. It can also be a strip of glucose paper dipped into a substance and measured to the glucose chart.
Example: Children with diabetes who exhibit symptoms of hypoglycaemia should check their blood glucose levels on home glucose meter immediately.
en: glucomètre
Hospital
noun
An institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people.
Example: Her throat was very sore and the doctor thought she would have to go away to the hospital, but she is better now.
en: hôpital
Internship
noun
The position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
Example: A trainee clinic is also provided where fourth year students complete an internship.
en: stage
Medical glove
noun
Medical gloves are disposable gloves used during medical examinations and procedures to help prevent cross-contamination between caregivers and patients.
Example: The doctor put on medical gloves before the examination.
en: gant médical
Nasopharyngeal cannula
noun
The nasal cannula is a device used to deliver supplemental oxygen or increased airflow to a patient or person in need of respiratory help.
Example: The nasopharyngeal cannula is a soft tube with two prongs that fit just inside the nose
en: canule nasopharyngée
Penlight
noun
A penlight provides a source of light and has become the most common used tool to assess the pupil diameter. Asymmetry of pupil constriction in response to light means one pupil constricts and the other remains dilated or constricts more slowly.
Example: Pupillary reflexes occurs with darkening the room and shining a penlight directly into the neonate's eye for several seconds.
en: lampe stylo
Sphygmomanometer
noun
An instrument for measuring blood pressure, typically consisting of an inflatable rubber cuff which is applied to the arm and connected to a column of mercury next to a graduated scale, enabling the determination of systolic and diastolic blood pressure by increasing and gradually releasing the pressure in the cuff.
Example: Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer.
en: sphygmomanomètre
Stethoscope
noun
A medical instrument for listening to the action of someone's heart or breathing, typically having a small disk-shaped resonator that is placed against the chest, and two tubes connected to earpieces.
Example: During the physical exam, the child's blood pressure is measured, and a stethoscope is used to listen to sounds made by the heart and blood flowing through the arteries.
en: stéthoscope
Stretcher
noun
A framework of two poles with a long piece of canvas slung between them, used for carrying sick, injured, or dead people.
