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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.
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Question
Answer
AAA   abdominal aortic aneurysm  
🗑
A-a gradient   alveolar to arterial gradient  
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AAD   antibiotic-associated diarrhea  
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AAO   alert  
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A&O   alert & oriented  
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AAS   acute abdominal series  
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ABD   abdomen  
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ABG   arterial blood gas  
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AC   before eating  
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ACLS   advanced cardiac life support  
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ACTH   adrenocorticotropic hormone  
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ADH   anti-diuretic hormone  
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ADR   adverse drug reaction. | acute dystonic reaction  
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ad lib   as much as needed  
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AED   antiepileptic drug  
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AF   atrial fibrillation or afebrile  
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AFB   acid-fast bacilli  
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AFP   alpha-fetoprotein  
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A /G   albumin/globulin ratio  
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AI   aortic insufficiency  
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AKA   above the knee amputation  
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ALD   alcoholic liver disease  
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ALL   acute lymphocytic leukemia  
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amb   ambulate  
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AML   acute myelogenous leukemia  
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ANA   antinuclear antibody  
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ANS   autonomic nervous system  
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AOB   alcohol on breath  
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AODM   adult onset diabetes mellitus  
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AP   anteroposterior or abdominal - perineal  
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ARDS   acute respiratory distress syndrome  
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ARF   acute renal failure  
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AS   aortic stenosis  
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ASAP   as soon as possible  
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ASCVD   atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease  
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ASD   atrial septal defect  
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ASHD   atherosclerotic heart disease  
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AV   atrioventricular  
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A-V   arteriovenous  
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A-VO2   arteriovenous oxygen  
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BBB   bundle branch block  
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BCAA   branched chain amino acids  
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BE   barium enema  
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BEE   basal energy expenditure  
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bid   twice a day  
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BKA   below the knee amputation  
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BM   bone marrow or bowel movement  
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BMR   basal metabolic rate  
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BOM   bilateral otitis media  
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BP   blood pressure  
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BPH   benign prostatic hypertrophy  
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BPM   beats per minute  
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BRBPR   bright red blood per rectum  
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BRP   bathroom priviledges  
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BS   bowel or breath sounds  
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BUN   blood urea nitrogen  
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BW   body weight  
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BX   biopsy  
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c   with  
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C&S   culture and sensitivity  
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CA   cancer  
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Ca   calcium  
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CAA   crystalline amino acids  
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CABG   coronary artery bypass graft  
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CAD   coronary artery disease  
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CAT   computerized axial tomography  
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CBC   complete blood count  
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CBG   capillary blood gas  
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CC   chief complaint  
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CCU   clean catch urine or cardiac care unit  
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CCV   critical closing volume  
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CF   cystic fibrosis  
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CGL   chronic granulocytic leukemia  
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CHF   congestive heart failure  
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CHO   carbohydrate  
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CI   cardiac index  
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CML   chronic myelogenous leukemia  
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CMV   cytomegalovirus  
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CN   cranial nerves  
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CNS   central nervous system  
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CO   cardiac output  
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C/O   complaining of  
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COLD   chronic obstructive lung disease  
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COPD   chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  
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CP   chest pain or cerebral palsy  
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CPAP   continuous positive airway pressure  
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CPK   creatine phosphokinase  
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CPR   cardiopulmonary resuscitation  
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CRCL   creatinine clearance  
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CRF   chronic renal failure  
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CRP   C-reactive protein  
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CSF   cerebrospinal fluid  
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CT   computerized tomography  
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CVA   cerebrovascular accident or costovertebral angle  
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CVAT   CVA tenderness  
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CVP   central venous pressure  
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CXR   chest X-ray  
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DAT   diet as tolerated  
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DAW   dispense as written  
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DC   discontinue or discharge  
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D&C   dilation and curettage  
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DDx   differential diagnosis  
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D5W   5% dextrose in water  
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DI   diabetes insipidus  
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DIC   disseminated intravascular coagulopathy  
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DIP   distal interphalangeal joint  
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DJD   degenerative joint disease  
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DKA   diabetic ketoacidosis  
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dL   deciliter  
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DM   diabetes mellitus  
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DNR   do not resuscitate  
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DOA   dead on arrival  
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DOE   dyspnea on exertion  
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DPL   diagnostic peritoneal lavage  
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DPT   diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus  
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DTR   deep tendon reflexes  
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DVT   deep venous thrombosis  
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DX   diagnosis  
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EAA   essential amino acids  
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EBL   estimated blood loss  
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ECG   electrocardiogram  
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ECT   electroconvulsive therapy  
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EFAD   essential fatty acid deficiency  
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EMG   Electromyogram  
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EMV   eyes, motor, verbal response (Glasgow coma scale)  
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ENT   ears, nose, and throat  
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EOM   extraocular muscles  
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ESR   erythrocyte sedimentation rate  
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ET   endotracheal  
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ETT   endotracheal tube  
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ERCP   endoscopic retrograde cholangio -pancreatography  
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ETOH   ethanol  
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EUA   examination under anesthesia  
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FBS   fasting blood sugar  
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FEV   forced expiratory volume  
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FFP   fresh frozen plasma  
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FRC   functional residual capacity  
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FTT   failure to thrive  
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FU   follow-up  
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FUO   fever of unknown origin  
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FVC   forced vital capacity  
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Fx   fracture  
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GC   gonorrhea  
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GETT   general by endotracheal tube  
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GFR   glomerular filtration rate  
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GI   gastrointestinal  
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gr   grain; 1 grain = 65mg. Therefore Vgr = 325mg  
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GSW   gun shot wound  
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gt or gtt   drops  
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GTT   glucose tolerance test  
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GU   genitourinary  
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GXT   graded exercise tolerance (Stress test)  
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HA   headache  
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HAA   hepatitis B surface antigen  
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HAV   hepatitis A virus  
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HBP   high blood pressure  
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HCG   human chorionic gonadotropin  
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HCT   hematocrit  
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HDL   high density lipoprotein  
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HEENT   head, eyes, ears, nose, throat  
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Hgb   hemoglobin  
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H/H   henderson- hasselbach equation or hemoglobin/ hematocrit  
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HIV   human immunodeficiency virus  
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HLA   histocompatibility locus antigen  
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HJR   hepatojugular reflex  
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HO   history of  
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HOB   head of bed  
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HPF   high power field  
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HPI   history of present illness  
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HR   heart rate  
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HS   at bedtime  
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HSM   hepatosplenomegaly  
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HTLV-III   human lymphotropic virus, type III (AIDS agent, HIV)  
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HSV   herpes simplex virus  
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HTN   hypertension  
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Hx   history  
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I&D   incision and drainage  
🗑
I&O   intake and output  
🗑
ICS   intercostal space  
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ICU   intensive care unit  
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ID   infectious disease or identification  
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IDDM   insulin dependent diabetes mellitus  
🗑
IG   immunoglobulin  
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IHSS   idiopathic hypertropic subaortic stenosis  
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IM   intramuscular  
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IMV   intermittent mandatory ventilation  
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INF   intravenous nutritional fluid  
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IPPB   intermittent positive pressure breathing  
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IRBBB   incomplete right bundle branch block  
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IRDM   insulin resistant diabetes mellitus  
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IT   interthecal  
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ITP   idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura  
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IV   intravenous  
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IVC   intravenous cholangiogram | inferior vena cava  
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IVP   intravenous pyelogram  
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JODM   juvenile onset diabetes mellitus  
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JVD   jugular venous distention  
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KOR   keep open rate  
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KUB   kidneys, ureters, bladder  
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KVO   keep vein open  
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L   left  
🗑
LAD   left axis deviation or left anterior descending  
🗑
LAE   left atrial enlargement  
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LAHB   left anterior hemiblock  
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LAP   left atrial pressure or leukocyte alkaline phosphatase  
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LBBB   left bundle branch block  
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LDH   lactate dehydrogenase  
🗑
LE   lupus erythematosus  
🗑
LIH   left inguinal hernia  
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LLL   left lower lobe  
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LMP   last menstrual period  
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LNMP   last normal menstrual period  
🗑
LOC   loss of consciousness or level of consciousness  
🗑
LP   lumbar puncture  
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LPN   licensed practical nurse  
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LUL   left upper lobe  
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LUQ   Left Upper Quadrant  
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LV   left ventricle  
🗑
LVEDP   left ventricular end diastolic pressure  
🗑
LVH   left ventricular hypertrophy  
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MAO   monoamine oxidase  
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MAP   mean arterial pressure  
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MAST   medical antishock trousers  
🗑
MBT   maternal blood type  
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MCH   mean cell hemoglobin  
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MCHC   mean cell hemoglobin concentration  
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MCV   mean cell volume  
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MI   myocardial infarction or mitral insufficiency  
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mL   milliliter  
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MLE   midline episiotomy  
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MMEF   maximal mid expiratory flow  
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mmol   millimole  
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MMR   measles, mumps, rubella  
🗑
MRI   magnetic resonance imaging  
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MRSA   methicillin resistant staph aureus  
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MS   multiple sclerosis or mitral stenosis, or morphine sulfate  
🗑
MSSA   methicillin-sensitive staph aureus  
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MVA   motor vehicle accident  
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MVI   multivitamin injection  
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MVV   maximum voluntary ventilation  
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NAD   no active disease  
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NAS   no added salt  
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NCV   nerve conduction velocity  
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NED   no evidence of recurrent disease  
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ng   nanogram  
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NG   nasogastric  
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NIDDM   non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus  
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NKA   no known allergies  
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NKDA   no known drug allergies  
🗑
NMR   nuclear magnetic resonance  
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NPO   nothing by mouth  
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NRM   no regular medications  
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NSAID   non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs  
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NSR   normal sinus rhythm  
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NT   nasotracheal  
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OB   obstetrics  
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OCG   oral cholecystogram  
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OD   overdose or right eye  
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OM   otitis media  
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OOB   out of bed  
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OPV   oral polio vaccine  
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OR   operating room  
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OS   left eye  
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OU   both eyes  
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P   para  
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PA   posteroanterior  
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PAC   premature atrial contraction  
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PAO2   alveolar oxygen  
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PaO2   peripheral arterial oxygen content  
🗑
PAP   pulmonary artery pressure  
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PAT   paroxysymal atrial tachycardia  
🗑
P&PD   percussion and postural drainage  
🗑
PC   after eating  
🗑
PCWP   pulmonary capillary wedge pressure  
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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)  
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PND   paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea  
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PO   by mouth  
🗑
POD   post-op day  
🗑
PP   postprandial or pulsus paradoxus  
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PPD   purified protein derivative  
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PR   by rectum  
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PRBC   packed red blood cells  
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PRN   as needed  
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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  
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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  
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Rx   treatment  
🗑
s   without  
🗑
ss   one-half  
🗑
SA   sinoatrial  
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SAA   synthetic amino acid  
🗑
S&E   sugar and acetone  
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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  
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SGOT   serum glutamic- oxaloacetic transaminase  
🗑
SGPT   serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase  
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SIADH   syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone  
🗑
sig   write on label  
🗑
SIMV   synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation  
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sl   sublingual  
🗑
SLE   systemic lupus erythematous  
🗑
SMO   slips made out  
🗑
SOAP   subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan  
🗑
SOB   shortness of breath  
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SQ   subcutaneous  
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STAT   immediately  
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SVD   spontaneous vaginal delivery  
🗑
Sx   symptoms  
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T&C   type and cross  
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TAH   total abdominal hysterectomy  
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T&H   type and hold  
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TB   tuberculosis  
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TBG   total binding globulin  
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Td   tetanus-diphtheria toxoid  
🗑
TIA   transient ischemic attack  
🗑
TIBC   total iron binding capacity  
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tid   three times a day  
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TIG   tetanus immune globulin  
🗑
TKO   to keep open  
🗑
TLC   total lung capacity  
🗑
TMJ   temporal mandibular joint  
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TNTC   too numerous to count  
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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  
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TURBT   TUR bladder tumors  
🗑
TURP   transurethral resection of prostate  
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TV   tidal volume  
🗑
TVH   total vaginal hysterectomy  
🗑
tw   twice a week  
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Tx   treatment, transplant  
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UA   urinalysis  
🗑
UAC   uric acid | umbilical artery catheter  
🗑
UAO   upper airway obstruction  
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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  
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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)  
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VMA   vanillymadelic acid  
🗑
VO   verbal or voice order  
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V/Q   ventilation - perfusion  
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VRE   vancomycin-resistant enterococcus  
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VSS   vital signs stable  
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VT   ventricular tachycardia  
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VV   varicose veins  
🗑
VW   vessel wall  
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VWD   von Willebrand's disease  
🗑
VZV   varicella zoster virus  
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WB   whole blood  
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WBC   white blood cell or count  
🗑
WBR   whole body radiation  
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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  
🗑


   

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