Common Medical Abbreviations
Quiz yourself by thinking what should be in
each of the black spaces below before clicking
on it to display the answer.
Help
|
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | abdominal aortic aneurysm | ||||
| A-a gradient | alveolar to arterial gradient | ||||
| AAD | antibiotic-associated diarrhea | ||||
| AAO | alert | ||||
| A&O | alert & oriented | ||||
| AAS | acute abdominal series | ||||
| ABD | abdomen | ||||
| ABG | arterial blood gas | ||||
| AC | before eating | ||||
| ACLS | advanced cardiac life support | ||||
| ACTH | adrenocorticotropic hormone | ||||
| ADH | anti-diuretic hormone | ||||
| ADR | adverse drug reaction. | acute dystonic reaction | ||||
| ad lib | as much as needed | ||||
| AED | antiepileptic drug | ||||
| AF | atrial fibrillation or afebrile | ||||
| AFB | acid-fast bacilli | ||||
| AFP | alpha-fetoprotein | ||||
| A /G | albumin/globulin ratio | ||||
| AI | aortic insufficiency | ||||
| AKA | above the knee amputation | ||||
| ALD | alcoholic liver disease | ||||
| ALL | acute lymphocytic leukemia | ||||
| amb | ambulate | ||||
| AML | acute myelogenous leukemia | ||||
| ANA | antinuclear antibody | ||||
| ANS | autonomic nervous system | ||||
| AOB | alcohol on breath | ||||
| AODM | adult onset diabetes mellitus | ||||
| AP | anteroposterior or abdominal - perineal | ||||
| ARDS | acute respiratory distress syndrome | ||||
| ARF | acute renal failure | ||||
| AS | aortic stenosis | ||||
| ASAP | as soon as possible | ||||
| ASCVD | atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease | ||||
| ASD | atrial septal defect | ||||
| ASHD | atherosclerotic heart disease | ||||
| AV | atrioventricular | ||||
| A-V | arteriovenous | ||||
| A-VO2 | arteriovenous oxygen | ||||
| BBB | bundle branch block | ||||
| BCAA | branched chain amino acids | ||||
| BE | barium enema | ||||
| BEE | basal energy expenditure | ||||
| bid | twice a day | ||||
| BKA | below the knee amputation | ||||
| BM | bone marrow or bowel movement | ||||
| BMR | basal metabolic rate | ||||
| BOM | bilateral otitis media | ||||
| BP | blood pressure | ||||
| BPH | benign prostatic hypertrophy | ||||
| BPM | beats per minute | ||||
| BRBPR | bright red blood per rectum | ||||
| BRP | bathroom priviledges | ||||
| BS | bowel or breath sounds | ||||
| BUN | blood urea nitrogen | ||||
| BW | body weight | ||||
| BX | biopsy | ||||
| c | with | ||||
| C&S | culture and sensitivity | ||||
| CA | cancer | ||||
| Ca | calcium | ||||
| CAA | crystalline amino acids | ||||
| CABG | coronary artery bypass graft | ||||
| CAD | coronary artery disease | ||||
| CAT | computerized axial tomography | ||||
| CBC | complete blood count | ||||
| CBG | capillary blood gas | ||||
| CC | chief complaint | ||||
| CCU | clean catch urine or cardiac care unit | ||||
| CCV | critical closing volume | ||||
| CF | cystic fibrosis | ||||
| CGL | chronic granulocytic leukemia | ||||
| CHF | congestive heart failure | ||||
| CHO | carbohydrate | ||||
| CI | cardiac index | ||||
| CML | chronic myelogenous leukemia | ||||
| CMV | cytomegalovirus | ||||
| CN | cranial nerves | ||||
| CNS | central nervous system | ||||
| CO | cardiac output | ||||
| C/O | complaining of | ||||
| COLD | chronic obstructive lung disease | ||||
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | ||||
| CP | chest pain or cerebral palsy | ||||
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure | ||||
| CPK | creatine phosphokinase | ||||
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation | ||||
| CRCL | creatinine clearance | ||||
| CRF | chronic renal failure | ||||
| CRP | C-reactive protein | ||||
| CSF | cerebrospinal fluid | ||||
| CT | computerized tomography | ||||
| CVA | cerebrovascular accident or costovertebral angle | ||||
| CVAT | CVA tenderness | ||||
| CVP | central venous pressure | ||||
| CXR | chest X-ray | ||||
| DAT | diet as tolerated | ||||
| DAW | dispense as written | ||||
| DC | discontinue or discharge | ||||
| D&C | dilation and curettage | ||||
| DDx | differential diagnosis | ||||
| D5W | 5% dextrose in water | ||||
| DI | diabetes insipidus | ||||
| DIC | disseminated intravascular coagulopathy | ||||
| DIP | distal interphalangeal joint | ||||
| DJD | degenerative joint disease | ||||
| DKA | diabetic ketoacidosis | ||||
| dL | deciliter | ||||
| DM | diabetes mellitus | ||||
| DNR | do not resuscitate | ||||
| DOA | dead on arrival | ||||
| DOE | dyspnea on exertion | ||||
| DPL | diagnostic peritoneal lavage | ||||
| DPT | diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus | ||||
| DTR | deep tendon reflexes | ||||
| DVT | deep venous thrombosis | ||||
| DX | diagnosis | ||||
| EAA | essential amino acids | ||||
| EBL | estimated blood loss | ||||
| ECG | electrocardiogram | ||||
| ECT | electroconvulsive therapy | ||||
| EFAD | essential fatty acid deficiency | ||||
| EMG | Electromyogram | ||||
| EMV | eyes, motor, verbal response (Glasgow coma scale) | ||||
| ENT | ears, nose, and throat | ||||
| EOM | extraocular muscles | ||||
| ESR | erythrocyte sedimentation rate | ||||
| ET | endotracheal | ||||
| ETT | endotracheal tube | ||||
| ERCP | endoscopic retrograde cholangio -pancreatography | ||||
| ETOH | ethanol | ||||
| EUA | examination under anesthesia | ||||
| FBS | fasting blood sugar | ||||
| FEV | forced expiratory volume | ||||
| FFP | fresh frozen plasma | ||||
| FRC | functional residual capacity | ||||
| FTT | failure to thrive | ||||
| FU | follow-up | ||||
| FUO | fever of unknown origin | ||||
| FVC | forced vital capacity | ||||
| Fx | fracture | ||||
| GC | gonorrhea | ||||
| GETT | general by endotracheal tube | ||||
| GFR | glomerular filtration rate | ||||
| GI | gastrointestinal | ||||
| gr | grain; 1 grain = 65mg. Therefore Vgr = 325mg | ||||
| GSW | gun shot wound | ||||
| gt or gtt | drops | ||||
| GTT | glucose tolerance test | ||||
| GU | genitourinary | ||||
| GXT | graded exercise tolerance (Stress test) | ||||
| HA | headache | ||||
| HAA | hepatitis B surface antigen | ||||
| HAV | hepatitis A virus | ||||
| HBP | high blood pressure | ||||
| HCG | human chorionic gonadotropin | ||||
| HCT | hematocrit | ||||
| HDL | high density lipoprotein | ||||
| HEENT | head, eyes, ears, nose, throat | ||||
| Hgb | hemoglobin | ||||
| H/H | henderson- hasselbach equation or hemoglobin/ hematocrit | ||||
| HIV | human immunodeficiency virus | ||||
| HLA | histocompatibility locus antigen | ||||
| HJR | hepatojugular reflex | ||||
| HO | history of | ||||
| HOB | head of bed | ||||
| HPF | high power field | ||||
| HPI | history of present illness | ||||
| HR | heart rate | ||||
| HS | at bedtime | ||||
| HSM | hepatosplenomegaly | ||||
| HTLV-III | human lymphotropic virus, type III (AIDS agent, HIV) | ||||
| HSV | herpes simplex virus | ||||
| HTN | hypertension | ||||
| Hx | history | ||||
| I&D | incision and drainage | ||||
| I&O | intake and output | ||||
| ICS | intercostal space | ||||
| ICU | intensive care unit | ||||
| ID | infectious disease or identification | ||||
| IDDM | insulin dependent diabetes mellitus | ||||
| IG | immunoglobulin | ||||
| IHSS | idiopathic hypertropic subaortic stenosis | ||||
| IM | intramuscular | ||||
| IMV | intermittent mandatory ventilation | ||||
| INF | intravenous nutritional fluid | ||||
| IPPB | intermittent positive pressure breathing | ||||
| IRBBB | incomplete right bundle branch block | ||||
| IRDM | insulin resistant diabetes mellitus | ||||
| IT | interthecal | ||||
| ITP | idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura | ||||
| IV | intravenous | ||||
| IVC | intravenous cholangiogram | inferior vena cava | ||||
| IVP | intravenous pyelogram | ||||
| JODM | juvenile onset diabetes mellitus | ||||
| JVD | jugular venous distention | ||||
| KOR | keep open rate | ||||
| KUB | kidneys, ureters, bladder | ||||
| KVO | keep vein open | ||||
| L | left | ||||
| LAD | left axis deviation or left anterior descending | ||||
| LAE | left atrial enlargement | ||||
| LAHB | left anterior hemiblock | ||||
| LAP | left atrial pressure or leukocyte alkaline phosphatase | ||||
| LBBB | left bundle branch block | ||||
| LDH | lactate dehydrogenase | ||||
| LE | lupus erythematosus | ||||
| LIH | left inguinal hernia | ||||
| LLL | left lower lobe | ||||
| LMP | last menstrual period | ||||
| LNMP | last normal menstrual period | ||||
| LOC | loss of consciousness or level of consciousness | ||||
| LP | lumbar puncture | ||||
| LPN | licensed practical nurse | ||||
| LUL | left upper lobe | ||||
| LUQ | Left Upper Quadrant | ||||
| LV | left ventricle | ||||
| LVEDP | left ventricular end diastolic pressure | ||||
| LVH | left ventricular hypertrophy | ||||
| MAO | monoamine oxidase | ||||
| MAP | mean arterial pressure | ||||
| MAST | medical antishock trousers | ||||
| MBT | maternal blood type | ||||
| MCH | mean cell hemoglobin | ||||
| MCHC | mean cell hemoglobin concentration | ||||
| MCV | mean cell volume | ||||
| MI | myocardial infarction or mitral insufficiency | ||||
| mL | milliliter | ||||
| MLE | midline episiotomy | ||||
| MMEF | maximal mid expiratory flow | ||||
| mmol | millimole | ||||
| MMR | measles, mumps, rubella | ||||
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging | ||||
| MRSA | methicillin resistant staph aureus | ||||
| MS | multiple sclerosis or mitral stenosis, or morphine sulfate | ||||
| MSSA | methicillin-sensitive staph aureus | ||||
| MVA | motor vehicle accident | ||||
| MVI | multivitamin injection | ||||
| MVV | maximum voluntary ventilation | ||||
| NAD | no active disease | ||||
| NAS | no added salt | ||||
| NCV | nerve conduction velocity | ||||
| NED | no evidence of recurrent disease | ||||
| ng | nanogram | ||||
| NG | nasogastric | ||||
| NIDDM | non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus | ||||
| NKA | no known allergies | ||||
| NKDA | no known drug allergies | ||||
| NMR | nuclear magnetic resonance | ||||
| NPO | nothing by mouth | ||||
| NRM | no regular medications | ||||
| NSAID | non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs | ||||
| NSR | normal sinus rhythm | ||||
| NT | nasotracheal | ||||
| OB | obstetrics | ||||
| OCG | oral cholecystogram | ||||
| OD | overdose or right eye | ||||
| OM | otitis media | ||||
| OOB | out of bed | ||||
| OPV | oral polio vaccine | ||||
| OR | operating room | ||||
| OS | left eye | ||||
| OU | both eyes | ||||
| P | para | ||||
| PA | posteroanterior | ||||
| PAC | premature atrial contraction | ||||
| PAO2 | alveolar oxygen | ||||
| PaO2 | peripheral arterial oxygen content | ||||
| PAP | pulmonary artery pressure | ||||
| PAT | paroxysymal atrial tachycardia | ||||
| P&PD | percussion and postural drainage | ||||
| PC | after eating | ||||
| PCWP | pulmonary capillary wedge pressure | ||||
| PDA | patent ductus arteriosus | ||||
| PDR | physicians desk reference | ||||
| PE | pulmonary embolus, or physical exam or pleural effusion | ||||
| PEEP | positive end expiratory pressure | ||||
| PFT | pulmonary function tests | ||||
| pg | picogram | ||||
| PI | pulmonic insufficiency disease | ||||
| PKU | phenylketonuria | ||||
| PMH | previous medical history | ||||
| PMI | point of maximal impulse | ||||
| PMN | polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil) | ||||
| PND | paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea | ||||
| PO | by mouth | ||||
| POD | post-op day | ||||
| PP | postprandial or pulsus paradoxus | ||||
| PPD | purified protein derivative | ||||
| PR | by rectum | ||||
| PRBC | packed red blood cells | ||||
| PRN | as needed | ||||
| PS | pulmonic stenosis | ||||
| PT | prothrombin time, or physical therapy | ||||
| Pt | patient | ||||
| PTCA | percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | ||||
| PTH | parathyroid hormone | ||||
| PTHC | percutanous transhepatic cholangiogram | ||||
| PTT | partial thromboplastin time | ||||
| PUD | peptic ulcer disease | ||||
| PVC | premature ventricular contraction | ||||
| PVD | peripheral vascular disease | ||||
| q | every (e.g. q6h = every 6 hours) | ||||
| qd | every day | ||||
| qh | every hour | ||||
| q4h, q6h.... | every 4 hours, every 6 hours etc. | ||||
| qid | four times a day | ||||
| QNS | quantity not sufficient | ||||
| qod | every other day | ||||
| Qs/Qt | shunt fraction | ||||
| Qt | total cardiac output | ||||
| R | right | ||||
| RA | rheumatoid arthritis or right atrium | ||||
| RAD | right atrial axis deviation | ||||
| RAE | right atrial enlargement | ||||
| RAP | right atrial pressure | ||||
| RBBB | right bundle branch block | ||||
| RBC | red blood cell | ||||
| RBP | retinol-binding protein | ||||
| RDA | recommended daily allowance | ||||
| RDW | red cell distribution width | ||||
| RIA | radioimmunoassay | ||||
| RIH | right inguinal hernia | ||||
| RLL | right lower lobe | ||||
| RLQ | right lower quadrant | ||||
| RML | right middle lobe | ||||
| RNA | ribonucleic acid | ||||
| R/O | rule out | ||||
| ROM | range of motion | ||||
| ROS | review of systems | ||||
| RPG | retrograde pyelogram | ||||
| RRR | regular rate and rhythm | ||||
| RT | respiratory or radiation therapy | ||||
| RTA | renal tubular acidosis | ||||
| RTC | return to clinic | ||||
| RU | resin uptake | ||||
| RUG | retrograde urethogram | ||||
| RUL | right upper lobe | ||||
| RUQ | right upper quadrant | ||||
| RV | residual volume | ||||
| RVH | right ventricular hyperthrophy | ||||
| Rx | treatment | ||||
| s | without | ||||
| ss | one-half | ||||
| SA | sinoatrial | ||||
| SAA | synthetic amino acid | ||||
| S&E | sugar and acetone | ||||
| SBE | subacute bacterial endocarditis | ||||
| SBFT | small bowel follow through | ||||
| SBS | short bowel syndrome | ||||
| SCr | serum creatinine | ||||
| SEM | systolic ejection murmur | ||||
| SG | Swan-Ganz | ||||
| SGA | small for gestational age | ||||
| SGGT | serum gamma- glutamyl transpeptidase | ||||
| SGOT | serum glutamic- oxaloacetic transaminase | ||||
| SGPT | serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase | ||||
| SIADH | syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone | ||||
| sig | write on label | ||||
| SIMV | synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation | ||||
| sl | sublingual | ||||
| SLE | systemic lupus erythematous | ||||
| SMO | slips made out | ||||
| SOAP | subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan | ||||
| SOB | shortness of breath | ||||
| SQ | subcutaneous | ||||
| STAT | immediately | ||||
| SVD | spontaneous vaginal delivery | ||||
| Sx | symptoms | ||||
| T&C | type and cross | ||||
| TAH | total abdominal hysterectomy | ||||
| T&H | type and hold | ||||
| TB | tuberculosis | ||||
| TBG | total binding globulin | ||||
| Td | tetanus-diphtheria toxoid | ||||
| TIA | transient ischemic attack | ||||
| TIBC | total iron binding capacity | ||||
| tid | three times a day | ||||
| TIG | tetanus immune globulin | ||||
| TKO | to keep open | ||||
| TLC | total lung capacity | ||||
| TMJ | temporal mandibular joint | ||||
| TNTC | too numerous to count | ||||
| TO | telephone order | ||||
| TOPV | trivalent oral polio vaccine | ||||
| TPN | total parenteral nutrition | ||||
| TSH | thyroid stimulating hormone | ||||
| TT | thrombin time | ||||
| TTP | thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura | ||||
| TU | tuberculin units | ||||
| TUR | transurethral resection | ||||
| TURBT | TUR bladder tumors | ||||
| TURP | transurethral resection of prostate | ||||
| TV | tidal volume | ||||
| TVH | total vaginal hysterectomy | ||||
| tw | twice a week | ||||
| Tx | treatment, transplant | ||||
| UA | urinalysis | ||||
| UAC | uric acid | umbilical artery catheter | ||||
| UAO | upper airway obstruction | ||||
| UBD | universal blood donor | ||||
| UC | ulcerative colitis | umbilical cord | ||||
| ud | as directed | ||||
| UFH | unfractionated heparin | ||||
| UGI | upper gastrointestinal | ||||
| URI | upper respiratory infection | ||||
| URQ | upper right quadrant | ||||
| US | ultrasound | ||||
| UTI | urinary tract infection | ||||
| UUN | urinary urea nitrogen | ||||
| UVA | ultraviolet A light | ||||
| VAD | venous access device | ||||
| VC | vital capacity | ||||
| VCT | venous clotting time | ||||
| VCUG | voiding cysourethrogram | ||||
| VDRL | Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (test for syphilis) | ||||
| VMA | vanillymadelic acid | ||||
| VO | verbal or voice order | ||||
| V/Q | ventilation - perfusion | ||||
| VRE | vancomycin-resistant enterococcus | ||||
| VSS | vital signs stable | ||||
| VT | ventricular tachycardia | ||||
| VV | varicose veins | ||||
| VW | vessel wall | ||||
| VWD | von Willebrand's disease | ||||
| VZV | varicella zoster virus | ||||
| WB | whole blood | ||||
| WBC | white blood cell or count | ||||
| WBR | whole body radiation | ||||
| WD | well developed | ||||
| WF | white female | ||||
| WIA | wounded in action | ||||
| WID | widow, widower | ||||
| WM | white male | ||||
| WN | well nourished | ||||
| WNL | within normal limits | ||||
| WO | written order | weeks old | wide open. | ||||
| WOP | without pain | ||||
| W.P. | whirlpool | ||||
| WPW | Wolff-Parkinson-White | ||||
| W-T-D | wet to dry | ||||
| W/U | workup | ||||
| X2d | times 2 days. | ||||
| XI | eleven | ||||
| XII | twelve | ||||
| XL | extended release. | extra large. | ||||
| XM | crossmatch | ||||
| XMM | xeromammography | ||||
| XOM | extraocular movements | ||||
| XRT | X-ray therapy (radiation therapy) | ||||
| XS | excessive | ||||
| XULN | times upper limit of normal | ||||
| YF | yellow fever | ||||
| YLC | youngest living child | ||||
| yo | years old | ||||
| YOB | year of birth | ||||
| yr | year | ||||
| ytd | year to date | ||||
| ZDV | zidovudine | ||||
| ZE | Zollinger-Ellison | ||||
| Z-ESR | zeta erythrocyte sedimentation rate | ||||
| Zn | zinc | ||||
| ZnO | zinc oxide | ||||
| ZSB | zero stools since birth |
Embed Code: If you would like this activity on your web page,
copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
show me how
Created by:
ChosenOne
on 2008-07-06