acute care

acute care

n.

Short-term medical treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients having an acute illness or injury or recovering from surgery.

---

acute care,

a pattern of health care in which a patient is treated for a brief but severe episode of illness, for the sequelae of an accident or other trauma, or during recovery from surgery. Acute care is usually given in a hospital by specialized personnel using complex and sophisticated technical equipment and materials, and it may involve intensive or emergency care. This pattern of care is often necessary for only a short time, unlike chronic care.

---

acute

1. brief.

2. common usage is 'having severe signs and a short course of 12 to 24 hours'. See also under organ (e.g. pancreatitis), system (e.g. respiratory), causative agent (e.g. arsenic) or lesion (e.g. myonecrosis).

---

acute bovine pulmonary emphysema-edema

see atypical interstitial pneumonia.

acute care

see secondary health care.

acute death syndrome of chickens

sudden death, for no apparent reason, in 2 to 3 week old broiler chicks; clinical signs of falling, wing flapping and convulsions may occur for about a minute before death.

acute phase response

the rapid change in composition of certain plasma proteins, largely due to alteration in hepatic synthesis, in response to infection or inflammation. Although the purpose is not well understood, these changes are believed to assist in immune response. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a laboratory indicator of the acute phase response. See also c-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor.

acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)

see apache system.

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

see acute respiratory distress syndrome.

---

acute care

Critical care Care administered to a Pt with an acute-eg burns, trauma, cardiac arrest, or other condition, which may be administered in ambulances, ERs, CCUs, and elsewhere Managed care Skilled, medically necessary health care provided by medical and nursing personnel to restore a person to good health