Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Peak and trough

    The highest and lowest concentrations of a drug in plasma. Measurement of peak and trough drug levels are used to determine whether an intravenously administered medication is consistently within therapeutic range. The trough is drawn just before a drug is scheduled to be given; the peak is drawn after the drug is administered (30 to…

  • Peabody developmental motor scales

    A standardized performance test of gross and fine motor development for infants and children. The PDMS is suitable for newborns, infants, and children up to 6 years of age. Subtests include reflexes, stationary, locomotion, object manipulation, grasping, and visual-motor manipulation.  

  • Pay for performance

    The use of specific indicators of health care efficiency or quality to increase or decrease the funds paid to health care providers for the services they render.  

  • Pavlik harness

    A device used to stabilize the hip in neonates with congenital hip dislocation.  

  • Pautrier microabscess

    A local collection of malignant lymphocytes. It is found on microscopic examination of biopsies taken from patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma.  

  • Sinus pause

    An interruption in the normal pace making function of the sinus (sinoatrial) node of the heart, resulting in a decrease in the number of heartbeats per minute. When sinus pauses are rare, the condition may be asymptomatic. When they occur frequently, patients may note palpitations or experience loss of consciousness.  

  • Noncompensatory pause

    The interval on the electrocardiogram that follows a premature atrial contraction (PAC). Because PACs reset the sinus pacemaker, the next sinus beat does not appear when it would have if there had been no extra beat.  

  • Compensatory pause

    The long interval following a premature ventricular contraction, so called because it does not disturb the normal sinus pacing of the heart.  

  • Pause

    An interruption; a temporary cessation of activity.  

  • Pauciarticular

    A classification of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis that indicates that four or fewer joints are affected at the time of onset of the disease.