Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Apneumatosis

    Noninflation of air cells of the lung; congenital atelectasis.  

  • Apneumatic

    Free of air, as in a collapsed lung.  

  • Apnea test

    A test used to determine whether a comatose person receiving life support has suffered brain death.  

  • Apnea monitoring

    Monitoring the respiratory movements, especially of infants. This may be done by use of an apnea alarm mattress, or devices to measure the infant’s thoracic and abdominal movements and heart rate.  

  • Apnea alarm mattress

    A mattress that is designed to sound an alarm when the infant lying on it ceases to breathe.  

  • Apnea of prematurity

    A condition of the premature newborn, marked by repeated episodes of apnea lasting longer than 20 sec. The diagnosis of AOP is one of exclusion, made when no treatable cause can be found. Increased frequency of apneic episodesdirectly relates to the degree of prematurity. AOP is not an independent risk factor for sudden infant death…

  • Obstructive apnea

    Absent or dysfunctional breathing that occurs when the upper airway is intermittently blocked during sleep. Observation of the patient reveals vigorous but ineffective respiratory efforts, often with loud snoring or snorting.  

  • Mixed apnea

    Dysfunctional breathing during sleep that combines elements of obstructive and central sleep apneas.  

  • Apnea hypopnea index

    A measure of sleep-disordered breathing based on the number of episodes of apnea or periods of inadequate ventilation during sleep.  

  • Deglutition apnea

    Cessation of breathing while swallowing.