ACLS Abbreviations Quiz

ACLS Abbreviations Overview

• ACE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme, plays a crucial role in blood pressure regulation and fluid balance.
• ACLS: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, essential protocols for managing cardiac emergencies.
• ACS: Acute Coronary Syndrome, a spectrum of conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart.
• AED: Automated External Defibrillator, a device that assesses heart rhythms and delivers shocks if necessary.
• AHF: Acute Heart Failure, a rapid onset of heart failure symptoms requiring immediate treatment.
• AIVR: Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm, a heart rhythm that can occur in various cardiac settings.
• AMI: Acute Myocardial Infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, resulting from blocked blood flow to the heart.
• aPTT: Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, a blood test that measures the time it takes for blood to clot.
• AV: Atrioventricular, referring to the electrical connection between the atria and ventricles of the heart.

Basic Life Support and Resuscitation

• BLS: Basic Life Support, fundamental skills like checking responsiveness and performing CPR.
• CARES: Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, a database for tracking and improving cardiac arrest survival rates.
• CCF: Chest Compression Fraction, a measure of the percentage of time during CPR that compressions are being made.
• CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, lifesaving technique to restore heartbeat and breathing.
• CPSS: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, a tool for identifying stroke symptoms in the prehospital setting.
• CQI: Continuous Quality Improvement, a systematic approach to improving healthcare services.

Diagnostic and Treatment Measures

• CT: Computed Tomography, imaging used for diagnostic assessment of various medical conditions.
• DNAR: Do Not Attempt Resuscitation, a clinical order indicating that efforts to resuscitate are not to be undertaken.
• ECG: Electrocardiogram, a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
• ED: Emergency Department, the hospital section dedicated to urgent patient care.
• EMS: Emergency Medical Services, services providing urgent medical care and transport.
• ET: Endotracheal, relating to the intubation method for securing an airway.

Medical Measurements and Units

• FIO2: Fraction of Inspired Oxygen, the percentage of oxygen in the air we breathe.
• GI: Gastrointestinal, referring to the digestive tract and related functions.
• ICU: Intensive Care Unit, specialized care for critically ill patients.
• INR: International Normalized Ratio, a standardized measure for blood coagulation.
• IO: Intraosseous, referring to access via the bone marrow for medication administration.
• IV: Intravenous, relating to the administration of fluids or medications into a vein.

Cardiac and Stroke Metrics

• LV: Left Ventricle, significant cardiac chamber responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the body.
• MACE: Major Adverse Cardiac Events, encompassing serious complications such as heart attacks and strokes.
• MET: Medical Emergency Team, a specialized group responding to critical patient situations.
• MI: Myocardial Infarction, another term for heart attack.
• mm Hg: Millimeters of Mercury, unit of measurement for blood pressure.
• NIH: National Institute of Health, a key medical research agency in the U.S.
• NIHSS: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, a tool for quantifying stroke severity.

Additional Cardiac and Respiratory Terms

• NINDS: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, focused on research and treatment of neurological diseases.
• NPA: Nasopharyngeal Airway, a device to maintain an open airway.
• NSAID: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug, medication used for pain relief and inflammation reduction.
• NSTE-ACS: Non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes, a category of heart problems without ST elevation on an ECG.
• NSTEMI: Non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a type of heart attack.
• OPA: Oropharyngeal Airway, used to keep the airway open in unconscious patients.

Respiratory and Cardiac Monitoring

• PaCO2: Partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, an important measure in respiratory function.
• PCI: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, a non-surgical procedure to treat narrowing of coronary arteries.
• PE: Pulmonary Embolism, blockage in a pulmonary artery.
• PEA: Pulseless Electrical Activity, a situation where the heart has an electrical rhythm but fails to pump effectively.
• PETCO2: Partial Pressure of End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide, a measure reflecting the amount of CO2 exhaled.
• PT: Prothrombin Time, a test that measures how long it takes blood to clot.

Emergency Interventions and Outcomes

• pVT: Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia, a type of cardiac arrest without a pulse.
• ROSC: Return of Spontaneous Circulation, the resumption of effective heartbeats and blood flow.
• RRT: Rapid Response Team, a group of healthcare professionals responding to critical patient situations.
• rtPA: Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator, a clot-busting medication used in stroke treatment.
• RV: Right Ventricle, responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
• SBP: Systolic Blood Pressure, the pressure in the arteries during heartbeats.
• STEMI: ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, a severe form of heart attack marked by specific ECG changes.
• SVT: Supraventricular Tachycardia, an abnormally fast heart rhythm originating above the ventricles.
• TCP: Transcutaneous Pacing, a temporary measure to treat slow heart rhythms using external electrical stimulation.
• TTM: Targeted Temperature Management, a treatment to improve outcomes after cardiac arrest.
• UA: Unstable Angina, a condition indicating that chest pain may occur at any time and may signal a heart attack risk.
• VF: Ventricular Fibrillation, a life-threatening heart rhythm leading to cardiac arrest.
• VT: Ventricular Tachycardia, a fast heart rhythm that can be life-threatening if it lasts long enough.

Test your knowledge of key abbreviations used in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). This quiz includes important terms like ACE, AED, and AHF, essential for understanding emergency care protocols. Challenge yourself to remember the meanings and applications of these acronyms!