Flatlining: meaning, definitions and examples

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flatlining

[ˈflætlaɪnɪŋ ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

medical condition

Flatlining refers to a situation in which there is a flat line on an electrocardiogram (ECG), indicating that a person’s heart has stopped beating. It is often used in medical emergencies to describe cardiac arrest, requiring immediate resuscitation efforts.

Synonyms

cardiac arrest, collapse, death.

Examples of usage

The patient was flatlining, prompting the doctors to initiate CPR.
After several minutes of flatlining, the team managed to revive him.
The ECG readout showed flatlining during the surgery, alarming the surgical team.

Interesting Facts

Medical Terminology

The term 'flatlining' comes from the appearance of an electrocardiogram (ECG) when a person has no heartbeat.
In emergencies, flatlining signals the need for immediate medical intervention, like CPR.
Doctors often use the term flatlining to describe moments when other organs or systems fail entirely.

Pop Culture

The term gained popularity through films and television, depicting dramatic moments in emergency rooms.
In music, several artists have used the concept metaphorically to express emotional or existential crises.

Psychology

Flatlining can metaphorically describe feelings of emotional numbness or disconnection from life.
In therapy, discussions about feeling 'flatlined' may indicate a person's struggle with depression or burnout.

Technology

In data analytics, 'flatlining' can refer to a graph that shows no change over time, which may indicate an issue with the data being collected.
Software applications sometimes use 'flatline' to describe a system that has become unresponsive or halted.

Literature

Authors may use the idea of flatlining in their stories to symbolize a character's moment of crisis or loss of hope.
Poetry may reflect flatlining as a metaphor for the stagnation of dreams or ambitions.