Common terms - P
Paediatrician
This is a doctor who specialises in the treatment of sick babies and
children.
Parenteral Nutrition:
'Parenteral' means to put fluids or drugs into the body other than through the mouth (for example directly into a vein
through a long line). Parenteral (intravenous) nutrition is a type of food that contains
sugars, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals - everything that the baby needs to grow.
It is given to babies when they are unable have any milk or only very small amounts of milk.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel,
which is important for a baby before he is born but which is no longer needed
after birth. When the ductus arteriosus fails to close on its own, it is known
as a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Drug therapy and or surgery can be used to
close the ductus.
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Peripheral
Peripheral means at the outer edge. Some intravenous lines are called peripheral lines because they are in the hands and
feet.
Phototherapy
This is the light treatment used for jaundice. A special blue light is
mounted above the incubator, which helps to fade the yellow skin colour of a
baby with jaundice. Babies are nursed naked (nappy open) to expose as much skin
as possible to the light. This treatment may last for up to a few days and, in
some babies may need to be repeated.
While under phototherapy the baby's eyes will be protected from the light.
This will be done either using eye shields or by placing an orange shield over his head.
Although the baby looks like he is sun bathing, phototherapy is not ultraviolet light and so is not harmful to the skin.
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Platelets
Platelets are a type of blood cell and are responsible for clotting the
blood.
Pneumothorax
A pneumothorax is a collection of air in-between the chest wall and the lung
itself.
Pre eclampsia
This is a condition that affects some mothers during pregnancy.
It causes high blood pressure and protein appears in the urine.
The mother often develops oedema (swelling) of hands and feet.
It can be a dangerous condition and occasionally the baby needs to be delivered prematurely because of the
deteriorating health of the mother.
Premature
Premature means early and a premature or preterm baby is a baby
born before 37 completed weeks of gestation.
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Prone
When a baby lies on his tummy.
Patient triggered ventilation (PTV)
In this type of ventilation the baby's own breaths are used to 'trigger' the
ventilator to give extra breaths or extra pressure.
Pulse oximeter:
This is another name for a saturation monitor which is used to monitor the
baby's oxygen levels.
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