Basic Medical Abbreviations Flashcards
AAA
Abdominal aortic aneurysm;
Ballooning and weakened area in artery
A Fib
Atrial fibrillation;
Irregular often rapid heartbeat
Abd
Abdomen; abdominal
Abx
Antibiotics
AMA
Against medical advice;
Example: patient leaves hospital against doctor’s advice
AMS
Altered mental status;
Confusion, amnesia, disorientation
ASA
Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
Blood thinner and NSAID
BID
Twice daily
Bilat LE
Bilateral lower extremities (hip to toes)
BM
Bowel movement
BP
Blood pressure
CA
Cancer / carcinoma
CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft (open heart surgery)
CAD
Coronary artery disease/ heart disease
CT or CAT
Computerized assisted tomography
CHF
Congestive heart failure
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (includes bronchitis and emphysema)
CP
Chest pain
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
C-section
Caesarean section
C-spine
Cervical spine (neck)
CSF
Cerebral spinal fluid
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke) / Costovertebral angle (between 12th rib and vertebral column) Tenderness sign of kidney stones
CXR
Chest X-Ray
c/o
Complains of
DKA
Diabetic ketoacidosis (body produces excess blood acids / ketones)
DM
Diabetes Mellitus (high blood glucose)
DNR
Do not resuscitate (allow for natural death)
DOE
Dyspnea on exertion
Difficulty breathing when engaged in simple activity
DVT
Deep venous thrombosis (blood clot in deep vein)
DX
Diagnosis
Dz
Disease
EKG/ECG
Electrocardiogram
EtOH
Alcohol
FHx
Family history
Fx
Fracture
GI
Gastrointestinal
G / P / Ab
Gravida: pregnant
Para: live births (greater than 29 weeks) twins and triplets count as one birth each
Abortion
GSW
Gun shot wound
GU
Genitourinary (related to genital and urinary organs)
HA
Headache
HEENT
Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat
HPI
History of present illness
HTN
Hypertension
Hx
History
H&H
Hemoglobin and hematocrit (ratio of volume of RBCs to total volume of blood)
H&P
History of present illness and physical exam
I&D
Incision and drainage
IDDM
Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; pancreas produces little or no insulin
IUP
Intrauterine pregnancy; first trimester sized baby seen in the uterus
IVDA
IV Drug Abuse
JVD
Jugular vein distention (JVP visualizer at level of neck; higher than normal)
LLE
Left lower extremity
LLQ
Left lower quadrant
LNMP
Last normal menstrual period
LOC
Loss of consciousness
LP
Lumbar puncture (fluid from lower back taken)
L-Spine
Lumbar spine
LUE
Left upper extremity
LUQ
Left upper quadrant
MCA
Motorcycle accident
MI
Myocardial infarction
MVA / MVC
Motor vehicle accident / collision
N/A
Not applicable
NAD
Not acute distress; no acute disease
NIDDM
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (insulin resistant)
NKDA
No known drug allergies
Nml or nl
Normal
NSAID
Non steroidal anti inflammatory drug
Reduces pain, decrease fever, prevent blood clots
NSR
Normal sinus rhythm (normal heart beat 69-100
NTG
Nitroglycerin; heart medication to treat and prevent angina
N/V/D
Nausea/ vomiting / diarrhea
O2 Sat
Oxygen saturation (aka SaO2)
OD
Overdosed
PCP / PMD
Primary care physician
PE
Pulmonary embolism or physician exam (one or more arteries in lungs blocked by blood clot)
PERRL
Pupils are equal, round and reactive to light
PO
Per Os (by mouth)
Prn
As needed
Pt
Patient
PTA
Prior to arrival
PUD
Peptic ulcer disease (sore that develops in lining of esophagus, stomach, small intestine)
Qd
Every day
Qh
Every hour
Qhs
At every bedtime
Q2h
Every 2 hours
QID
Four times a day
RLE
Right lower extremity
RLQ
Right lower quadrant
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
Rx
Prescription
R/O
Rule out
SOB
Shortness of breath
S/P
Status post (after)
Sx
Symptoms
TIA
Transient ischemic attack (stroke)
TID
Three times a day
TM
Tympanic membrane
T-spine
Thoracic spine
Tx
Treatment
UA
Urinalysis
URI
Upper respiratory infection
US
Ultrasound
UTD
Up to date
UTI
Urinary tract infection
WNL
With normal limits (results are within the range of what is considered normal)
