Blood gas: sample of blood from a venous, capillary or artery and analysed to determine the efficiency of gas exchange and acid-base balance. Normal ranges for partial pressures of oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH are determined from these samples. Acid-base is determined from the levels of bicarbonate, base excess (or deficit). The most accurate sample is from an arterial site.

A medical procedure used to look inside the lungs and airways.

Volume of blood ejected by the heart per minute. Formula: stroke volume x heart rate.

inflammation of the cornea.

A form of blood purification (dialysis) known as continuous renal replacement therapy for patients in acute kidney failure.

Pressure used to inflate cuffed ETT. High cuff pressure compromises tracheal capillary perfusion and damages tracheal mucosa. Low cuff pressures may cause ETT leaks and cause problems with ventilation. Nurses measure the cuff pressure of inflated ETT at the bedside with a hand-held cuff pressure manometer.

the process of de-escalating intensive care treatment and management.

Electrocardiogram – a tracing of the electrical activity of the heart. 3 or 5 lead ECGs are used for continuous ICU monitoring. 12-lead ECG is performed as required.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is similar to the heart–lung machine used for open heart surgery which delivers oxygen into the blood from a device outside the body.

A general term describing a disease that affects the function or structure of the brain.

End-tidal carbon dioxide is a measure of carbon dioxide at the end of a tidal breath. It represents alveolar carbon dioxide at exhalation. Normal EtCO₂ is 4–6.5kPa.

Endotracheal tube: an artificial airway inserted orally or nasally into the trachea to protect the airway. Can be cuffed or uncuffed.

removal of the ETT

a form of renal replacement therapy used in intensive care.

High frequency oscillatory ventilation is a special ventilator that delivers an advanced ventilatory mode of ventilation for patients difficult to oxygenate and/or ventilate.

a special nasal cannula delivering warmed and humidified oxygen therapy using high flows from 8–60L dependent on age of child.

abnormally low albumin levels.

Another name for shock/circulatory failure that results in inadequate perfusion and delivery of oxygen (and other substrates) to vital organs.

A form of withdrawal which includes hallucinations. Can be hypoactive when the child is inactively displaying signs of stress and a vacant expression or hyperactive when the child is disruptive, agitated, prone to pulling out lines and catheters.

Placement of an airway tube into the trachea to maintain a patent airway.

The average blood pressure during a single cardiac cycle. MAP is derived from the systolic and diastolic blood pressure over a cardiac cycle. Cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance (how vasoconstricted or dilated the blood vessels are) influence MAP.

Mechanical ventilation can be invasive (through an artificial airway) or non-invasive (NIV) through various patient–ventilator interfaces and requires the patient to be maintaining their own patient airway.

Non-invasive ventilation for spontaneously breathing children who are not intubated.

a state of normal arterial carbon dioxide levels.

The pressure gradient between arterial and venous blood pressure that promotes blood flow.

A way to purify the blood in kidney failure using the peritoneum as the conduit for dialysis.

The Paediatric Intensive Care Society is a multidisciplinary forum for those involved and interested in paediatric intensive care. PICS represents the UK paediatric intensive care community at national and international levels.

An abnormal collection of air in the pleural space which causes the lung to separate from the chest wall and lung collapse.

A form of post-traumatic stress disorder experienced by patients and their families, commonly associated with flashbacks, anxiety and fear.

Raised intracranial pressure is the pressure that builds up inside the brain. Unrelieved pressure from various pathological causes can lead to brain herniation and death.

Stroke volume. Volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each contraction.

Any external mechanical force that causes brain dysfunction.

Pharmacological agents causing vasodilatation or vasoconstriction of blood vessels and/or heart rate.

Medical device used to move breathable gases in and out of patient’s lungs

Capacity of a blood vessel to allow flow of molecules and fluid in and out of the blood vessel.

ventilation-perfusion. How lungs match ventilation to perfusion. Normal VQ: 0.8.