Medical Jargon Close this window A abduction - to move a limb or some other body part away from the midline of the body ABG - arterial blood gas reading acetaminophen - a nonsalicylate analgesic-antipyretic (Tylenol) ACE - angiotension-converting enzyme ACLS - advanced cardiac life support; includes electricity (defibrillator) and drugs for life threatening arrhythmias acidotic - abnormally high acidity of body fluids and tissues acute - sudden, intense flare-up adenosine - a drug used to help a patient with Supraventricular tachycardia convert to normal sinus rhythm agonal - a word used to describe a major negative change in a patient's condition, usually preceding immediate death, such as a complete cessation of breathing or a dire change in the patient's EEG or EKG albuterol - a bronchodilator used on asthma patients and patients having bronchial spasms to dilate the bronchia and improve breathing ALOC - abbreviation for Acute Loss of Consciousness alzheimer's disease - a progressive disease with specific brain abnormalities marked by memory loss and progressive inability to function normally at even the simplest tasks AMA - against medical advice or American Medical Association ambu-bag - handheld squeeze bag attached to a face mask. see also bagging amitriptyline - a tricyclic antidepressant amoxicillin - an antibiotic amp - abbreviation for Ampule, which is a sealed plastic or glass capsule containing a single dose of a drug in a sterile solution for injection. anaphylactic shock - an extreme allergic reaction that usually involves heart failure, circulatory collapse, a severe asthma-like difficulty in breathing and sometimes results in death. ancef - a cephalosporin antibiotic anemia - chronicall...
