Neonatal Intensive Care Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
corrected gestational age
A method of calculating an infant's developmental age by adjusting chronological age based on how early the infant was born relative to full term.
kernicterus
A form of brain damage caused by severe neonatal jaundice when unconjugated bilirubin crosses the blood-brain barrier.
large for gestational age
An infant whose birth weight exceeds the 90th percentile for their gestational age, often abbreviated as LGA.
late preterm
Classification for infants born between 34 and 36 completed weeks of gestation.
mechanical ventilation
Artificial breathing support using a machine to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the lungs.
meconium aspiration syndrome
Respiratory distress caused by inhalation of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, leading to airway obstruction and chemical...
meconium ileus
A bowel obstruction in newborns caused by abnormally thick, sticky meconium, often associated with cystic fibrosis.
minimal enteral nutrition
Small volumes of breast milk or formula given to very premature infants to stimulate gut development and function while...
minimal handling protocol
A care approach that limits unnecessary stimulation and clustering care activities to promote rest and reduce stress in...
nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation
A non-invasive ventilation technique that delivers intermittent positive pressure breaths through nasal prongs without e...
NEC
Serious gastrointestinal condition affecting premature infants involving inflammation and tissue death of the intestinal...
necrotizing enterocolitis
A serious gastrointestinal condition primarily affecting premature infants, characterized by inflammation and death of i...
neonatal abstinence syndrome
A group of withdrawal symptoms occurring in newborns exposed to addictive substances in utero, requiring specialized tre...
neonatal intensive care unit network neurobehavioral scale
A comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates neurobehavioral organization, neurological integrity, and stress response...
neutral thermal environment
The optimal environmental temperature range that allows a newborn to maintain normal body temperature with minimal metab...
NIPPV
Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation; non-invasive respiratory support delivering cyclical positive pressure...
oligohydramnios
A condition of decreased amniotic fluid during pregnancy that can lead to fetal complications and NICU admission.
osteopenia of prematurity
Metabolic bone disease in preterm infants characterized by decreased bone mineral density and increased fracture risk.
oxygen saturation
Percentage of hemoglobin molecules bound with oxygen, continuously monitored in NICU patients.
patent ductus arteriosus
A congenital heart defect where the ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth, allowing blood to flow between the aor...
PEEP
Positive end-expiratory pressure; pressure maintained in the airway at the end of expiration during mechanical ventilati...
periventricular leukomalacia
A type of brain injury characterized by softening of white matter tissue near the ventricles, commonly seen in premature...
persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
A condition where elevated pulmonary vascular resistance persists after birth, causing right-to-left shunting and severe...
phototherapy
Light treatment using blue or white fluorescent lamps to break down bilirubin in newborns with jaundice.
PICC line
Peripherally inserted central catheter threaded through a peripheral vein into the central circulation.