PACU
|PA-CU|
/ˈpækjuː/
fish; recovery unit
Etymology
'PACU' originates from the Portuguese word 'pacu,' which is derived from the Tupi language, where 'pacu' meant 'fish.'
'Pacu' was adopted into English from Portuguese, maintaining its reference to the fish species.
Initially, it referred specifically to the fish, but in medical contexts, it evolved to mean 'Post Anesthesia Care Unit.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of freshwater fish native to South America, related to the piranha but typically larger and with a more varied diet.
The PACU is often found in the Amazon River.
Synonyms
Noun 2
post Anesthesia Care Unit, a recovery room where patients are monitored after surgery.
After the surgery, the patient was taken to the PACU for monitoring.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35