Common terms
- Intubated: a tube has been placed into the windpipe to allow ventilation
- Extubated: that tube has been removed and the patient is breathing on their own
- Sedated: given medication to keep them comfortable and unaware, usually because of the breathing tube
- Ventilated: the machine is supporting or taking over breathing
- Weaning: gradually reducing machine support so the patient does more of the work
- Haemodynamically stable: blood pressure and circulation are holding steady
- Inotropes or vasopressors: drugs given to support blood pressure
- Sepsis: the body's response to infection is damaging its own organs
- Acute kidney injury: kidney function has fallen suddenly, often recoverable
- Lactate: a blood measurement showing whether tissues are getting enough oxygen
- Saturations or sats: the percentage of oxygen carried in the blood
- Tracheostomy: a breathing tube placed through the front of the neck for longer term ventilation
- Nil by mouth: nothing to be given by mouth, including water
- Escalation: increasing the level of treatment or support
- Ward round: the daily review of every patient by the full team
Phrases that carry weight
Some phrases sound mild and are not. If you hear that a patient is critical but stable, it means seriously ill and not currently deteriorating, which is not the same as improving. Guarded prognosis means the team is genuinely uncertain about survival. Multi organ failure means more than one organ system is failing, which is significant.
If a phrase is used that you do not understand, ask what it means for your relative specifically. Generic definitions are less useful than the specific answer.