Here are brief explanations of terms you may hear in the ICU:

Arterial Blood Gas: Blood test on a sample of blood from the artery that helps evaluate how well the patient is breathing by measuring the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Arterial Line: Small plastic catheter placed in an artery and attached to a monitor screen to measure blood pressure and obtain blood samples. 

Attending Physician: Senior physician member of the team that oversees the patient’s care.

Cardiac Monitor (heart monitor): Screen that displays the patient’s vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing rate, etc.). Various wires, cable and electrodes connect the patient to this monitor.

Catheter (line): Small plastic tube placed in a blood vessel (vein or artery) or elsewhere (e.g., bladder).

Central Line: Special IV catheter placed in a large vein (usually near the neck or collar bone) to give intravenous fluids, medications or nutrition, and/or to measure pressures.

EKG: Monitors and displays the heartbeat.

Endotracheal Tubes (ET Tubes): Breathing tube that is placed in the trachea through the mouth or nose (or through the neck as tracheotomy). This tube is attached to a ventilator or another oxygen source to help the patient breathe.

Face Mask (Oxygen or O2 mask): Plastic mask placed over the nose and mouth. Attached to plastic tubing that delivers oxygen (tank or wall source) to help the patient breathe.

Foley Catheter (Foley): Soft tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine.

Isolation: System to prevent the spread of infection to and from patients. May require staff and visitors to wear mask, gown, and/or gloves in the patient’s room.

Intensivist: Physician or nurse with special training to care for critically ill patients and their families.

Intravenous Catheter (IV, IV line): Small plastic tube placed into a vein to give fluids, medications, or nutrition, and/or measure pressures.

Nasal Cannula (cannula): Plastic tube that fits around the head with two short prongs into nostrils. Delivers oxygen from an oxygen tank or wall source.

Nasogastric or Orogastric Tube (NG, OG): A tube placed through the nose or mouth into the stomach. Used to give medications and nutrition, and/or to drain stomach contents.

Procedure: Test, treatment, or insertion of catheter or device to prevent, treat, or diagnose a medical problem.

Pulse Oximeter (pulse ox, O2 sat monitor): Device with a light sensor placed on finger, toe or ear lobe to monitor levels of oxygen in the blood.

Restraints: Cloth cuffs placed to protect patients by limiting patient movement.

Sequential Compression Devices (SCD, venodynes): Inflate and deflate to massage the legs to prevent blood clots.

Suction: Removal of secretions or drainage from the patient’s airway (trachea, lungs) or other body cavity (e.g., stomach).

Tracheotomy: Surgical opening in the neck for insertion of a breathing (endotracheal) tube into the patient’s airway. This tube is attached to a ventilator or another oxygen source to help the patient breathe.

Vasoactive Drugs (vasopressors, pressors, drips): Medications that are given through an IV to help increase or decrease blood pressure and heart function.

Ventilator/Respirator (vent, breathing machine, mechanical ventilation): Machine attached to the patient through an ET tube (in mouth, nose or neck) to help the patient breathe.