Medical abbreviations and their meaning

A
AAA – abdominal aortic aneurysm
A-a gradient – alveolar to arterial gradient
AAS – acute abdominal series
ABD – abdomen
ABG – arterial blood gas
AC – before eating
ACLS – advanced cardiac life support
ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone
AD – autonomic dysreflexia
ad lib – as much as needed
ADH – anti-diuretic hormone
ADL – activity of daily living
AF – atrial fibrillation or afebrile
AFB – acid-fast bacilli
AFP – alpha-fetoprotein
AFO – ankle foot orthosis
A/G – albumin/globulin ratio
AI – aortic insufficiency
AKA – above the knee amputation
ALL – acute lymphocytic leukemia
ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease)
amb – ambulate
AML – acute myelogenous leukemia
ANA – antinuclear antibody
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
ASIA – American Spinal Injury Association
AV – atrioventricular
A-V – arteriovenous
A-VO2 – arteriovenous oxygen
B
BBB – bundle branch block
BC – bowel care
BCAA – branched chain amino acids
BE – barium enema
BEE – basal energy expenditure
bid – twice a day
bilat – bilateral
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 privileges
BS – bowel or breath sounds
BUN – blood urea nitrogen
BW – body weight
BX – biopsy
C
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 – creatinine phosphokinase
CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRCL – creatinine clearance
CRF – chronic renal failure
CRP – C-reactive protein
CRTS – certified recreational therapy specialist
CSF – cerebrospinal fluid
CSW – certified social worker
CT – computerized tomography
CVA – cerebrovascular accident or costovertebral angle
CVAT – CVA tenderness
CVP – central venous pressure
CXR – chest X-ray
D
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
DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid
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
E
EAA – essential amino acids
EBL – estimated blood loss
ECD – external continence device
ECG – electrocardiogram
ECT – electroconvulsive therapy
ED – erectile dysfunction
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
F
FBS – fasting blood sugar
FES – functional electrical stimulation
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
G
GC – gonorrhea
GETT – general by endotracheal tube
GFR – glomerular filtration rate
GI – gastrointestinal
gr – grain; 1 grain = 65mg
GSW – gun shot wound
gt or gtt – drops
GTT – glucose tolerance test
GU – genitourinary
GXT – graded exercise tolerance (Stress test)
H
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
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 or inferior vena cava
IVP – intravenous pyelogram
J
JODM – juvenile onset diabetes mellitus
JVD – jugular venous distention
K
KAFO – knee ankle foot orthosis
KOR – keep open rate
KT – kinesio therapy or kinesiotherapist
KUB – kidneys, ureters, bladder
KVO – keep vein open
L
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
LDL – low density lipoprotein
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 quadrant
LV – left ventricle
LVEDP – left ventricular end diastolic pressure
LVH – left ventricular hypertrophy
M
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
MUSE – medicated urethral system erection
MVA – motor vehicle accident
MVI – multivitamin injection
MVV – maximum voluntary ventilation
N
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
O
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
OT – occupational therapy or occupational therapist
OU – both eyes
P
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
PPMS – primary progressive multiple sclerosis
PPS – post-polio syndrome
PR – by rectum
PRBC – packed red blood cells
PRN – as needed
PS – pulmonic stenosis
PSA – prostate-specific antigen
PT – prothrombin time, or physical therapy
Pt – patient
PTCA – percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PTH – parathyroid hormone
PTHC – percutanous transhepatic cholangiogram
PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder
PTT – partial thromboplastin time
PUD – peptic ulcer disease
PVC – premature ventricular contraction
PVD – peripheral vascular disease
PVR – post voiding residual
Q
q – every
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
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
RPMS – relapsing-progressive multiple sclerosis
RRMS – relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
RRR – regular rate and rhyth
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
s – without
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
SCI – spinal cord injury
SCI/D – spinal cord injury and disorder
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
SPMS – secondary preogressive multiple sclerosis
SQ – subcutaneous
ss – one-half
STAT – immediately
SVD – spontaneous vaginal delivery
SW – social worker
Sx – symptoms
T
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 – temporo 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
U
UA – urinalysis
UAC – uric acid
ud – use as directed
UGI – upper gastrointestinal
URI – upper respiratory infection
US – ultrasound
UTI – urinary tract infection
UUN – urinary urea nitrogen
V
VC – vital capacity
VCUG – voiding cystourethrogram
VMA – vanillymadelic acid
VO – verbal or voice order
V/Q – ventilation – perfusion
VSS – vital signs stable
W
WB – whole blood
WBC – white blood cell or count
WD – well developed
WF – white female
WM – white male
WN – well nourished
WNL – within normal limits
WPW – Wolf-Parkinson-White
X
XRT – X-ray therapy
Y
yo – years old
Z
ZE – Zollinger-Ellison