| AHRA | American Hospital Radiology Administration |
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| AOA | American Osteopathic Association; Administration on Aging; Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society; American... |
| ASHPA | American Society for Hospital Personnel Administration |
| AUPHA | Association of University Programs in Health Administration |
| CHAMPVA | Civilian Health and Medical Program of Veterans Administration |
| positive-pressure respiration, intrinsic | Non-therapeutic positive end-expiratory pressure occurring frequently in patients with severe airway obstruction. It can appear with or without the administration of external positive end-expiratory pressure (positive-pressure respiration). It presents an important load on the inspiratory muscles which are operating at a mechanical disadvantage due to hyperinflation. Auto-peep may cause profound hypotension that should be treated by intravascular volume expansion, increasing the time for expiration, and/or changing from assist mode to intermittent mandatory ventilation mode. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| critical pressure | The minimum pressure required to liquefy a gas at the critical temperature. (05 Mar 2000) |
| postoperative pressure alopecia | Loss of hair over a circumscribed area usually on the posterior scalp, resulting from continuous pressure on the occiput in a lengthy operative procedure, or unconsciousness following a drug overdose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure | 1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand. 2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization. "Where the pressure of danger was not felt." (Macaulay) 3. Affliction; distress; grievance. "My people's pressures are grievous." (Eikon Basilike) "In the midst of his great troubles and pressures." (Atterbury) 4. Urgency; as, the pressure of business. 5. Impression; stamp; character impressed. "All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past." (Shak) 6. <mechanics> The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the upon a unit's area. Atmospheric pressure, Center of pressure, etc. See Atmospheric, Center, etc. <engineering> Back pressure, pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet. Fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point. Pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer. Origin: OF, fr. L. Pressura, fr. Premere. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pressure alopecia | Loss of hair over a circumscribed area usually on the posterior scalp, resulting from the continuous pressure on the occiput in a lengthy operative procedure, or unconsciousness following a drug overdose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure amaurosis | A loss of vision occurring a few seconds after intraocular pressure exceeds systolic pressure of retinal arteries. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure anaesthesia | Loss of sensation produced by pressure applied to a nerve. Synonym: compression anaesthesia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure atrophy | The wasting of hard or soft tissue resulting from excessive pressure applied to tissue by a denture base. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure collapse | Pulmonary collapse due to external compression of the lung, as by a pleural effusion or pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure-controlled respirator | A respirator that provides a predetermined pressure to gases during inhalation, the volume of gas moved being variable, depending upon resistance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure dressing | A dressing by which pressure is exerted on the area covered to prevent the collection of fluids in the underlying tissues; most commonly used after skin grafting and in the treatment of burns. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure epiphysis | A secondary centre of ossification in the articular end of a long bone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure gangrene | <dermatology> A chronic ulcer that appears in pressure areas in debilitated patients confined to bed or otherwise immobilised, due to a circulatory defect from the enhanced tissue pressure in high-contact areas, often occurring over a bony prominence (for example sacral decubitus). (27 Sep 1997) |
| pressure, intraocular | The pressure created by the continual renewal of fluids within the eye. The intraocular pressure is increased in glaucoma. In acute angle-closure glaucoma, the intraocular pressure rises because the canal into which the fluid in the front part of the eye normally drains is suddenly blocked. In chronic glaucoma, there is a gradual imbalance between the production and removal (resorption) of the fluid in the back part of the eye (with supply exceeding demand). (12 Dec 1998) |
| pressure palsy | Paralysis due to compression of a nerve, nerve trunk, or spinal cord. Synonym: pressure palsy. (05 Mar 2000) |