Glossary of Terms

Understanding Brain Injury - Acute Hospitalization - A Guide for Families and Friends Edited by: David S. Kushner, M.D. Glossary Members of the Team Terms

Anesthesiologist: A physician who administers anesthesia for surgery and special procedures. Anesthesiologists usually meet with patients and family members before surgery.

Attending Physician: The physician who is primarily responsible for the care of the patient. This is often a neurosurgeon immediately following the trauma.

Clinical Psychologist: An expert in the management of cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems. Psychologists also work closely with the rehabilitation team.

Consulting Physician: A physician who is a specialist in a medical field other than that of the attending physician. Consulting physicians may be called in by the attending physician to provide opinions on various aspects of care.

Intern: A physician who has finished medical school and is usually in the first year of specialty training. Interns work under the supervision of attending physicians and residents.

Internist: A physician who specializes in internal medicine. Internists are often consulted after a brain injury to assist in the management of problems of the heart, digestive tract, or other internal organs.

Neurologist: A physician who specializes in disorders of the brain, spinal cord. nerves, and muscles. Neurologists do not perform surgery. A neurologist often directs the postacute care of a brain injury patient.

Neuropsycbologist: A psychologist who specializes in working with patients who have experienced brain injuries. Neuropsychologists often administers special psychometric tests of brain function and work very closely with the rehabilitation team.

Neurosurgeon: Neurosurgeons operate on the brain and spinal cord and are often attending physicians for patients with brain injuries during the acute hospitalization.

Neurorehabilitationist: A neurologist who is specialized and hoard certified in the comprehensive rehabilitation care of patients having neurological disorders such as stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Nurse: A person with special training in the care of patients with various medical problems. As part of the brain-injury team, nurses also have special training and experience in caring for patients with diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord.

Nutritionist: An expert in the nutritional requirements of patients. Nurtitionists are also adept at nutritional augmentation through various alternative methods of feeding for those patients unable to take in food and fluid by mouth.

Occupational Therapist (OT): A specialist involved in the retraining of patients with brain injuries to resume the self-care activities important to daily living. OTs work to improve function in the patient's hands and upper body and become involved during the acute rehabilitation phase.

Physical Therapist (PT): An expert in maintaining and improving the movement and function of joints and limbs. Physical therapists may begin to work with patients while th~y are still in the intensive care unit.

Psychiatrist: A physician who specializes in the management of emotional and behavioral problems.

Pbysiatrist: A physician responsible for coordinating the rehabilitative needs of a patient.

Resident: A physician who has completed medical school and an internship who is taking additional training in a specialty, such as neurology, neurosurgery or psychiatry. Residents work under the supervision of attending physicians.

Social Worker: A trained specialist in the social, emotional and financial needs of families and patients. Social workers often help families and patients obtain the services they have been prescribed.

Speech Pathologist (ST): A therapist responsible for the evaluation and treatment of problems with speech and language including: auditory, cognitive comprehension, attention, writing, reading, and expression skills.

Unit Secretary/clerk: A person who coordinates messages and manages the clerical work on the nurses' station under the direction of the nurses.

ANOSMIA - Loss of the sense of smell.

ANOXIA - A lack of oxygen. Brain cells need oxygen to exist. When blood flow to the brain is reduced or when oxygen in the blood is low, brain cells are damaged.

BRAIN CT SCAN - An imaging technique of the brain that reveal tumors, blood clots, hemorrhages, or other abnormal anatomy. A series of computerized X rays of the brain at various levels to reveal its structure.

CATHETER - A flexible plastic tube of varying sizes utilized for withdrawing fluids from or introducing fluids into a cavity of the body. This tubing is also used in specialized medical procedures.

CERFBROSPINAL FLUID - The liquid that fills the ventricles of the brain and surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

CLOSED HEAD INJURY - Trauma to the head that does not penetrate the skull but that results in injury to the brain.

COGNITION - The conscious process of the mind by which one becomes aware of thoughts and perceptions, including all aspects of perceiving, thinking, and remembering.

COMA - A state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused, even by powerful stimulation. Coma involves the loss of awareness of self and the surrounding environment.

COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN or COMPUTERIZED AXIAL TOMOGRAPHY (CAT) SCAN - A series of computerized X rays which may be taken at various levels of the body's anatomy to reveal structure or abnormalities.

DECUBITUS ULCER - A bed sore or discolored, open area of skin damaged by pressure. Common areas for breakdown of skin are the buttocks, hip, shoulder areas, ankles, heels and elbows.

DEFICIT - A lacking or deficiency in the amount or quality of functioning.

DIPLOPIA - Double vision; the perception of two images of a single object.

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM - The recording of electrical activity of the brain by positioning electrodes on the scalp.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM - A method for evaluating heart rate and rhythm by positioning electrode pads on the patient's chest, which are connected to a monitor.

EYE TAPE - Tape used to close the eyes of a patient who is unable to blink. Blinking is important to keep the eyes moist.

HALO - A metal ring used for patients with upper spinal cord injuries that surrounds or encircles the patient's head, allowing for proper alignment of the neck and spinal column.

JEJUNOSTOMY TUBE - A type of feeding tube surgically inserted into the small intestine.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (Mffl) - A diagnostic procedure that uses magnetic fields to create pictures of specific areas of anatomy. MRI can provide a more detailed picture than the CT scan in some situations.

ORTHOSIS-Splint or brace used to support, align and improve function of movable parts of the body.

PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE- A condition in which the patient is unable to speak or follow simple commands and does not respond in any psychologically meaningful way. The transition from coma to a vegetative condition reflects changes from a period of no response to the internal or external environment (other than reflexively) to a state of wakefulness but with no indication of awareness.

PLATEAU- A temporary or more permanent leveling off in the recovery or rehabilitation process.

RESPIRATOR - (see ventilator)

SCANNING- An active, usually visual search of the environment for information. Used in reading, driving, and other daily activities.

SEIZURE-An uncontrolled discharge of nerve cells that may spread to other cells throughout the brain. The sudden attack may he accompanied by loss of bowel and bladder control, involuntary movements, and a change in mentation.

SENSORY INTEGRATION-Interaction of two or more sensory processes in a way that enhances the adaptiveness of the brain.

SENSORY-STIMULATION-Arousal of the brain through any of the senses.

SEQUENCING (motor)--Contracting muscles in an orderly and meaningful manner.

SHUNTING/SHUNT- A method of removing excessive fluid from the ventricles of the brain in hydrocephalus. A surgically placed tuhe connected to a ventricle deposits fluid in to the abdominal cavity, heart or large vein in the neck.

VENTILATOR-Equipment that mechanically does the breathing for the unresponsive patient. The machinery serves to deliver air with the appropriate percentage of oxygen and at the appropriate rate.