This glossary contains words a paramedic can use during his career.
Anaphylactic shock
noun
A severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can develop rapidly. It is also known as anaphylactic shock. Signs of anaphylaxis include itchy skin or a raised red skin rash.
Example: The patient suffered anaphylactic shock.
fr: Choc anaphylactique.
Angioplasty
noun
Surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, especially a coronary artery.
Example: After his heart attack, the man had an angioplasty.
fr: Angioplastie
Anisocoria
noun
Is characterized by a difference in pupil sizes.
Example: After examining the pupils, they demonstrated anisocoria.
fr: Anisocorie
Asystole
noun
Is a symptom characterized by insufficient contractions of the heart or even complete cessation.
Example: His heart is in asystole.
fr: Asystolie
Bag-valve mask
noun
It is a handheld tool that is used to deliver positive pressure ventilation to any subject with insufficient or ineffective breaths.
Example: During resuscitation, we used a bag-valve mask to help the patient breathe better.
fr: Ballon masque
Bradycardic
noun
Bradycardia is a type of abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia. It occurs when the heart beats very slowly, less than 60 beats per minute.
Example: When I take his pulse, I can feel his bradycardic rythm
fr: Bradycardique
Bradypnea
noun
Bradypnea is an abnormally slow breathing rate.
Example: The patient has bradypnea.
fr: Bradypnée
Catheter
noun
A flexible tube is inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity, particularly the bladder, for removing fluid.
Example: We made an intra-veinous catheter for this patient.
fr: Cathéter
Cephalalgia
noun
Is a symptom that refers to any type of pain located in the head.
Example: Today, I had a pain in my head, and my doctor told me it was called a cephalalgia.
fr: Céphalée
Combitube
noun
Is designed to provide an airway to facilitate the mechanical ventilation of a patient in respiratory distress.
Example: In the case of an ACR, we use this to open the airways because the patient cannot do it by himself.
fr: Combitube
Cyanosis
noun
Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.
Example: Her lips have cyanosis.
fr: Cyanose
Electrocardiogram, ECG
noun
Trace obtained by recording the electrical phenomena of the living heart
Example: We do an ECG when the patient has chest pain.
fr: Électrocardiogramme, ECG
Emphysema
noun
Is a lung disease that results from damage to the walls of the alveoli in your lungs.
Example: Mr was also diagnosed with emphysema 4 years ago.
fr: Emphysème
Glasgow coma scale
noun
Is used to objectively describe the extent of impaired consciousness in all types of acute medical and trauma patients. The scale assesses patients according to three aspects of responsiveness: eye-opening, motor, and verbal responses.
Example: This scale is used to assess the neurological status of a patient who has had a traumatic injury
fr: L'échelle de coma de Glasgow.
Glucagon
noun
A hormone formed in the pancreas that promotes the breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver.
Example: When blood sugar levels are low, glucagon is used to bring it back up.
fr: Glucagon
Immobilizer mattress
noun
Is a device used to completely immobilize a person, particularly the hip and spine. It is also used to condition severe burn victims, to limit their movements, and to insulate them from the cold.
Example: We use an immobilizer mattress when you go to a patient who has had a car accident, to protect his spine.
fr: Matelas immobilisateur
Miosis
noun
excessive smallness or contraction of the pupil of the eye.
Example: The patient's pupils are in miosis.
fr: Myosis
Mydriasis
noun
the dilation of the pupil, which normally occurs in response to low amounts of light in the environment.
Example: The patient's pupils are in mydriasis.
fr: Mydriase
Nasopharyngeal airway
noun
is a soft, anatomically designed airway adjunct inserted into the nasal passageway to provide airway patency.
Example: we use the nasopharyngeal airway to open an air passage through the nose.
fr: Voies respiratoires nasopharyngées
Pulse oxymeter
noun
is a sensor that measures the proportion of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood in pulsating vessels, especially the capillaries of the finger or ear.
Example: we use this to check if the patient's breathing is correct or if he needs more oxygen
