FP-C key terms

The near-simultaneous administration of a sedative and a neuromuscular blocker so that an endotracheal tube can be placed immediately, used when a patient needs an artificial airway but carries a high aspiration risk.

A four-grade scale describing how much of the glottis can be seen during direct laryngoscopy, from a full view of the vocal cords at grade one to no laryngeal structures at grade four. Higher grades predict difficult intubation.

Continuous measurement and waveform display of exhaled carbon dioxide. It confirms tube position, reveals dislodgment or obstruction within seconds, and reflects both ventilation and cardiac output during transport.

An emergency airway made by incising the cricothyroid membrane and inserting a tube, performed when the upper airway is obstructed and intubation or supraglottic rescue has failed.

A bedside rating of how much of the oropharynx is visible with the patient seated, mouth open, and tongue protruded, graded one through four. Higher grades suggest a crowded airway and predict difficult laryngoscopy.

Ultrasound performed and interpreted at the bedside by the treating clinician to answer focused questions, such as whether a pericardial effusion, pneumothorax, free abdominal fluid, or cardiac standstill is present.

A blood marker of anaerobic metabolism and poor tissue perfusion. Persistently elevated or rising values suggest incomplete resuscitation and correlate with worse outcomes in shock and sepsis.

A physiologic tool combining Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate to triage injured patients and predict survival, with lower totals indicating more severe derangement.

At a constant temperature, the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure surrounding it. As aircraft climb and pressure falls, trapped gas expands in the bowel, sinuses, middle ear, and tube cuffs.

The total pressure of a gas mixture equals the sum of the partial pressures of its components. It explains why the partial pressure of oxygen falls with altitude even though oxygen's percentage in air stays the same.

The amount of gas dissolved in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of that gas above the liquid. When ambient pressure drops quickly, dissolved nitrogen comes out of solution and can form bubbles.

Tissue injury produced by a pressure difference between a gas-filled space and its surroundings, such as a pneumothorax, ruptured tympanic membrane, or sinus squeeze occurring during ascent or descent.

The interval after oxygen supply is lost during which a person can still take deliberate, corrective action before becoming incapacitated. It shortens dramatically as altitude increases.

A disorder caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in blood and tissues when ambient pressure falls too rapidly, producing joint pain, skin mottling, chest symptoms, or neurologic deficits.

Air trapped in the pleural space that cannot escape, progressively raising intrathoracic pressure, collapsing the lung, shifting the mediastinum, and obstructing venous return to the heart.

The classic combination of muffled heart sounds, distended neck veins, and hypotension that suggests pericardial tamponade. All three are often absent, so bedside ultrasound is more dependable.

A severe asthma attack that fails to improve with repeated bronchodilator therapy, producing worsening air trapping, a quiet chest, rising carbon dioxide, and imminent risk of respiratory failure.

Obstruction of pulmonary arteries by thrombus, fat, air, or amniotic material, causing abrupt dyspnea, chest pain, hypoxemia, and right heart strain. Deterioration can be rapid during transport.

Pressure inside a closed fascial compartment rises above capillary perfusion pressure, producing pain out of proportion to injury, paresthesia, and eventual muscle and nerve death if not relieved.

The systemic consequences of prolonged muscle compression, including rhabdomyolysis, hyperkalemia, acidosis, and acute kidney injury, which may appear only after the weight is released and reperfusion begins.

A strap or folded sheet placed around the greater trochanters to compress and stabilize an unstable pelvic ring fracture, reducing internal bleeding and pain while the patient is moved.

A constricting device applied proximal to a limb wound to halt arterial bleeding by occluding blood flow. It stays in place until surgical care, and the application time must be recorded.

A rapid, hands-off evaluation of appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin that estimates how sick a child is before vital signs or history are available.

A zero-to-ten rating assigned at one and five minutes after birth based on heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. It describes the newborn's condition and response to resuscitation.

A structural heart defect in which blood flow depends on a patent ductus arteriosus. When the ductus closes, the newborn deteriorates rapidly, so prostaglandin E1 is infused to keep it open.

A length-based, color-coded tape that estimates a child's weight and supplies precalculated drug doses and equipment sizes during emergencies when age or measured weight is unknown.

The combination of rising blood pressure with a widened pulse pressure, slowing heart rate, and irregular respirations that signals escalating intracranial pressure and impending herniation.

The difference between mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure. It drives blood flow to brain tissue, so systemic hypotension or raised intracranial pressure both threaten ischemic injury.

Continuous seizure activity, or repeated seizures without recovery of consciousness, lasting beyond about five minutes. It demands immediate benzodiazepine dosing, airway support, and correction of underlying causes.

Hypotension with bradycardia and warm, dry skin caused by loss of sympathetic vascular tone after a high spinal cord injury. Treatment includes fluids, vasopressors, and sometimes atropine.

A set of teamwork behaviors, including clear communication, defined roles, assertiveness, and mutual monitoring, that helps crews detect errors and manage workload during high-risk transport missions.

A rule that limits nonessential conversation and distraction during critical phases of flight or patient care so the crew can concentrate fully on safety-critical tasks.

The effective altitude maintained inside a pressurized aircraft cabin, commonly 6,000 to 8,000 feet. It lowers inspired oxygen pressure and can worsen hypoxemia in already compromised patients.

Heart rate divided by systolic blood pressure. A value above roughly 0.9 raises concern for occult hemorrhage or hypoperfusion even while the blood pressure still appears acceptable.

Deliberately limiting fluid resuscitation to keep blood pressure low yet adequate until hemorrhage is controlled, avoiding clot disruption and dilution of clotting factors in the injured patient.

A preplanned, balanced delivery of red cells, plasma, and platelets in fixed ratios for life-threatening hemorrhage, replacing crystalloid and limiting dilutional coagulopathy, hypothermia, and acidosis.

A small bolus of dilute epinephrine, about ten micrograms per milliliter, given by syringe for transient hypotension to produce rapid vasoconstriction and increased cardiac output.

A dissociative sedative and analgesic that tends to preserve airway reflexes and spontaneous breathing. It is used for induction, pain control, and agitation, though it can raise blood pressure and secretions.

An antifibrinolytic medication that blocks the breakdown of formed clot. Given early in major trauma or severe hemorrhage, it reduces mortality and is also used in other bleeding emergencies.