NICU Glossary
Here are some terms you may come across during your prematurity journey.
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Acidosis
Caused by the accumulation of waste acids in the body as a result of either breathing difficulties or poor functioning in metabolic systems.
Anemia
A condition where the number of red cells in the blood is lower than normal.
(Crit or hematocrit is the test used to measure the percentage of red blood cells in relation to the total volume of blood.)
Apnea
Is an interruption in breathing that lasts 15 seconds or longer. Some preemies need manual stimulation or drug therapy to restart or maintain normal breathing patterns.
(Also called apneic episodes or apneic spells)
Adjusted Age
Is a preemie’s chronological age minus the number of weeks she was born early.
(Also known as corrected age)
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Bili Lights & Bili Blankets
Used to treat jaundice, which is common in all newborns.
(This may also be called phototherapy.)
Blood Gasses
The measure of levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in a baby’s blood.
Bradycardia
A slowed heart rate. Brady Episodes are usually temporary and often associated with apnea in preemies.
(Also called Brady’s or B’s)
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response Test
A hearing test for newborns.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
Lung damage and scarring that can be caused by prolonged periods of mechanical ventilation.
(Sometimes called Chronic Lung Disease)
Cardiopulmonary Monitors
Track a baby’s heart and breathing rates. An apnea monitor detects interruptions in breathing.
(Also called cardio-respiratory monitors)
CAT/CT Scans
Use a narrow band of radiation paired with computer imaging systems to produce precise pictures of tissues.
(Short for computed tomography scans)
Catheters
Small, thin plastic tubes that deliver fluid internally or are used to remove fluid from a baby’s body. Broviac catheters are designed to stay in place for weeks or months.
Cerebral Palsy
A group of conditions caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain during fetal development, birth, or in infancy. It affects control of movement, posture, flexibility, and muscle strength.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Delivers oxygen through nasal cannula or endotracheal tubes to help a preemie breathe by keeping the air sacs of the lungs open.
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De-saturation (Desat)
An episode when a baby’s oxygen saturation is low.
Developmentally Delayed
A term used to describe infants, toddlers, and children who haven’t reached the milestones expected for their age groups.
Echocardiogram
A specialized form of ultrasound focused on the heart.
Edema
Puffiness or swelling caused by fluid retention.
Endotracheal Tubes
Small plastic tubes that pass through a baby’s nose or mouth into the windpipe to deliver oxygen through a ventilator.
(Also called ET Tubes)
Exchange Transfusions
A special kind of blood transfusion, often used to treat severe jaundice, in which some of a preemie’s blood is removed and replaced with a donor’s blood.
Feeding Tubes
Help babies who are too small or weak to feed by mouth get the nutrition they need. These may be inserted into the stomach via the nose (NG tube) or the mouth (OG tube), and typically do not cause babies any discomfort. This way of feeding a preemie is known as gavage feeding.
Gastroesophageal Relux
When the contents of a baby’s stomach moves back up into the esophagus, usually due to an immature junction between the two. This is very common among preemies.
Gastronomy Tube (G-Tube)
A way of delivering nutrition through a surgically created opening in the stomach.
Gestational Age
Is the age of the preemie measured from conception to birth
Hydrocephalus
An accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain. In preemies, this condition is often caused by intraventricular hemorrhage.
(Sometimes called water on the brain)
Hypoglycemia
The medical term for low blood sugar.
Input & Output (I&O)
The measurement of both fluids given during feedings and the amount excreted in urine and stool.
Ileal Perforation
When a hole in the small bowel spontaneously occurs, can happens with extremely premature babies.
Infant Warmers
Open beds with overhead heaters used to maintain a preemie’s body temperature.
(Also called radiant warmers)
Intracranial Hemorrhaging
Bleeding within the skull. In preemies, this usually occurs in the ventricles (IVH) though it can happen in any part of the brain, and may cause intellectual or physical difficulties.
Isolletes / Incubators
Used to regulate temperature but are enclosed, and also protect babies from germs and noise.
IVs / Infusion Pumps
Help deliver fluids and medications directly into a preemies bloodstream. An IV can be placed in a baby’s scalp, hand, arm, foot, or leg. PICC lines or central lines are placed in larger vein when more medications or fluids are needed or they’re needed for a longer period of time.
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Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by the accumulation of a normal waste product called bilirubin.
Kangaroo Care
A way of holding a preemie with skin-to-skin contact that can be incredibly comforting to both parents and babies.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Scanning machines that use strong magnets paired with computer imaging systems to produce extremely detailed pictures of tissues.
Nasal Cannulas
Soft plastic tubes that go around a preemie’s head and under her nose where nasal prongs deliver oxygen.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Swelling, redness, and tenderness of the intestine caused by decreased blood supply or infection. Severity varies from case to case.
Neonatologists
Pediatricians who have trained specifically to care for premature, sick, and special needs newborns.
Osteopenia of Prematurity (OOP)
A decrease in the amount of calcium and phosphorus in a baby’s bones that causes them to become brittle and weak.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
The incomplete closure of the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the aorta. Usually this vessel closes soon after birth; when it remains open, it can be treated medically or surgically.
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)
High blood pressure in the lungs that causes blood vessels in the lungs to narrow. This can lead to breathing problems.
Physiologic Monitors
Newer model monitors which are computer systems that can record information, review trends, and filter out false alarms.
Pneumothorax
A condition in which air from a preemie’s lungs leaks out into the space between the chest cavity and the lungs themselves. Larger leaks may require surgical repair.
Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema
Occurs in babies on ventilators when bubbles form around the alveoli of the lungs.
Pulse Oximeters
Monitor a baby’s blood oxygen level using a tiny infrared light attached to the foot or the hand.
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
Scarring and abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina. Because the retina does not mature until close to term, the growth of blood vessels can be altered by many factors related to prematurity.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
A virus that causes respiratory tract infections that are particularly dangerous in preemies and infants with chronic lung conditions.
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
A serious breathing issue caused by lung immaturity and the absence of lung surfactant in preemies.
Systematic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (Sepsis)
A widespread infection of the blood usually treated with antibiotics.
Specialists
You may meet some of these specialists in the NICU: neonatal clinical nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, lactation consultants, dieticians, apnea specialists, surgeons, and pediatric specialists who deal with very specific conditions.
Surfactant
A detergent-like substance used to keep the tiny air sacs in a preemie’s lungs from collapsing.
Synchronized Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure (SiPAP)
This can also be called a Bi Level CPAP; gives two levels of CPAP to babies, one right after another.
Tachycardia
A faster than usual heart rate.
Tachypnea
A faster than usual respiratory rate.
Temperature Probes
Sensors taped to a preemie’s stomach to monitor their skin temperature and calibrate the temperature in an isolette or infant warmer.
Ultrasound
Uses sound waves to create images of tissue to diagnose a range of conditions.
Umbilical Catheters
Inserted into the belly button to painlessly draw blood or give a baby nutrition, fluids, medicines, or a transfusion.
Ventilators / Respirators
Help preemies breath via a tube that pumps warm, humidified air into the lungs. Sometimes during testing an oxyhood may be used. High-frequency ventilation is a type of ventilation designed to be gentler on delicate lungs.