Medical Abbreviations Flashcards
a
before
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm
Abd
abdomen
ABG
arterial blood gas
ABI
ankle-brachial index
ac
before meals
ACL
anterior cruciate ligament
AFB
acid fast bacilli
AFP
alpha fetoprotein
ALL
acute lymphocytic leukemia
ALT
alanine aminotransferase (liver enzyme)
AMA
against medical advice (as in patient discharges themselves) or advanced maternal age (OB)
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
AML
acute myeloid leukemia
ANA
antinuclear antibody
A&O
alert and oriented
AP
antepartum (OB)
A-P
antero-posterior
ARDS
adult respiratory distress syndrome
AROM
artificial rupture of membranes (OB)
ASA
aspirin
ASD
atrial septal defect (cardiac)
ATN
acute tubular necrosis (renal)
AU
both ears
AXR
abdominal x-ray
A&W
alive and well
BBB
bundle branch block (cardiac)
Bid
twice daily
Bilat
bilateral
Bld
blood
BM
bowel movement
BPH
benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRP
bathroom privileges
BS
blood sugar or bowel sounds
BSA
body surface area
BSE
breast self exam
BSO
bilateral salpingoophorectomy (GYN)
BTL
bilateral tubal ligation (OB-GYN)
BUN
blood urea nitrogen (lab)
Bx
biopsy
c
with
CA
carcinoma, cancer
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
CBC
complete blood count
CBD
common bile duct
CBF
cerebral blood flow
cc
cubic centimeter
CC
chief complain
CEA
carcino-embryonic antigen
CHF
congestive heart failure
CIS
carcinoma in situ
CK
creatinine kinase
CLL
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
cm
centimeter
CML
chronic myeloid leukemia
CMV
cytomegalovirus
CN
cranial nerve
c/o
complains of
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP
continuous positive airway pressure (tx for sleep apnea patients)
CPD
cephalo-pelvic disproportion (OB)
CRF
chronic renal failure
C/S
cesarean section
C&S
culture and sensitivity
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CT
computed tomography
CVA
cerebrovascular accident (stroke), costovertebral angle
CTAB
clear to auscultation bilaterally
CVP
central venous pressure
CXR
chest x-ray
d/c
discontinue
DC
discharge
D&C
dilation and curettage (OB-GYN)
DDx
differential diagnosis
D5W
5% dextrose and sterile water
DI
diabetes insipidus
DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulation
DIP
distal interphalangeal joint
DJD
degenerative joint disease
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis
DM
diabetes mellitus
DOE
dyspnea on exertion
DPT
diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccine
DTR
deep tendon reflex
DVT
deep venous thrombosis
DU
duodenal ulcer
DUB
dysfunctional uterine bleeding (OB-GYN)
Dx
diagnosis
EBL
estimated blood loss
ECG
electrocardiogram
EDC
estimated date of confinement (OB-due date)
EEG
electroencephalogram
EENT
eyes, ears, nose, throat
EGA
estimated gestational age (OB)
EGD
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EKG
electrocardiogram
EMG
electromyogram (study of the muscle-nerve response)
EOM
extraocular movement
ERCP
endocopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESR
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ETOH
ethanol
EUA
examine under anesthesia
FBS
fasting blood sugar
FEV
forced expiratory volume
FFP
fresh frozen plasma
FHR
fetal heart rate
FHT
fetal heart tones
FNA
fine needle aspiration
FOBT
fecal occult blood test
FSH
follicle stimulating hormone (GYN)
FTD
failure to descent (OB)
FTP
failure to progress (OB)
FTT
failure to thrive (pedi)
F/U
follow-up
FUO
fever of unknown origin
FVC
forced vital capacity
Fx
fracture
G
gravid
G.A.
general anesthesia
GA
gestational age (OB)
GB
gallbladder
GC
gonococcus
GCS
Glasgow Coma Scale (neuro)
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GET
general endotracheal intubation (anesthesia)
GFR
glomerular filtration rate
Gtts
drops
GSW
gunshot wound
GTT
glucose tolerance test
GU
genitourinary
H
hour
H/A
headache
hb, hgb
hemoglobin
Hcg
human chrionic gonadotropin (OB-GYN)
Hct
hematocrit
hs
at bedtime
h/o
history of
HOB
head of bed
H&P
history and physical
HPI
history of present illness
HR
heart rate
Hx
history
IBD
inflammatory bowel disease
ICS
intercostal space
IDA
iron deficiency anemia
I&D
incision and drainage
IDDM
insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Ig
immunoglobulin
IM
intramuscular
INR
international
I&O
intake and output
IOP
intraocular pressure
IU
international unit
IUD
intrauterine device (GYN)
IUGR
intrauterine growth retardation (OB)
IUFD
intrauterine fetal demise (OB)
IUP
intrauterine pregnancy
IV
intravenously
IVC
inferior vena cava
IVF
intravenous fluids
IVP
intravenous pyelogram
IVPB
IV piggy back
J-P
Jackson Pratt drain (grenade looking drain in post-op pts)
JRA
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
JVP
jugular venous pulse
JVD
jugular venous distension
KUB
kidney, ureter, bladder (radiography study)
LAD
left anterior descending coronary artery
L&D
labor and delivery
LBBB
left bundle branch block (cardiac)
LBP
lower back pain
LBW
low birth weight
LCA
left coronary artery
LDH
lactic dehydrogenase (lab)
LE
lower extremities
LFTliver function test (lab)???
liver function test (lab)
LGA
large for gestational age (OB)
LH
luteinizing hormone (GYN)
LLE
left lower extremity
LLL
left lower lobe
LLQ
eft lower quadrant
LN
lymph node
LOC
loss of consciousness
LP
lumbar puncture (not called a spinal tap)
LSB
left sternal border
LTCS
low transverse cesarean section
LVH
left ventricular hypertrophy
Lytes
electrolytes
MCH
mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCL
midclavicular line
MCP
metacarpophalangeal joint
MDI
metered dose inhaler (pulmonary)
MI
myocardial infarction
MOM
milk of magnesia
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MVA
motor vehicle accident
MVP
mitral valve prolapse
NAD
no apparent distress
NB
newborn
NED
no evidence of disease (use for oncology patients in remission)
NGT
nasogastric tube
NIDDM
noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA
no known allergies
NKDA
no known drug allergies
NOS
not otherwise specified
NPO
nothing per os (mouth)
NSR
normal sinus rhythm
NST
non-stress test (OB)
N/V
nausea and vomiting
N/V/D
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
OA
osteoarthritis
Obs
observations
OD
right eye
O/E
on exam
Oint
ointment
OM
otitis media
OOB
out of bed
OCP
oral contraceptive pill
ORIF
open reduction with internal fixation
os
opening, mouth
OS
left eye
OTC
over the counter
OT
occupational therapy
OU
both eyes
P-A
postero-anterior
PAC
premature atrial contraction
PACU
post anesthesia care unit
Pap
Papanicolaou test (pap smear)
pc
after meals
PCL
posterior cruciate ligament
PDA
patent ductus arteriosus
PE
physical examination, pulmonary embolism
PEEP
positive end expiratory pressure
PERRLA
pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
PET
positron emission tomography
PFT
pulmonary function test
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
PND
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
PO
per os
POD
postoperative day
PP
post partum
PPD
purified protein derivative (TB skin test)
PPH
post partum hemorrhage (OB)
pr
per rectum
PRBC
packed red blood cells
prn
as needed
PROM
premature rupture of membranes (OB), passive range of motion (ortho)
Pt
patient
PT
physical therapy, prothrombin time
PTCA
percutaneous transvenous coronary angioplasty (balloon heart cath)
PUD
peptic ulcer disease
PVC
premature ventricular contraction
PVD
peripheral vascular disease
q
every q is NO longer acceptable on prescriptions or written orders because it commonly is misread and high risk of medical errors
qd
every day
qh
every hour
q2Hh
every two hours
RA
rheumatoid arthritis
RAI
radioactive iodine
RAM
rapid alternating movements (neuro)
RBBB
right bundle branch block (cardiac)
RBC
red blood cell
RCA
right coronary artery
RDS
respiratory distress syndrome
RF
rheumatic fever
RHD
rheumatic hear disease
R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion (ortho), rupture of membranes (OB)
ROS
review of systems
RTC
return to clinic
Rx
therapy, prescription
s
without
SBE
subacute bacterial endocarditis
SBO
small bowel obstruction
Sc
subcutaneously
SGA
small for gestational age (OB)
SLE
systemic lupus erythematosus
SO
superior oblique
SOB
shortness or breath
S/P
status post
SROM
spontaneous rupture of membranes (OB)
SVD
spontaneous vaginal delivery
SVT
supraventricular tachycardia
S/S
signs and symptoms
T&C
type and cross-match (blood)
T&S
type and screen (blood)
TAH
total abdominal hysterectomy
TB
tuberculosis
TEE
transesophageal echocardiography
TFT
thyroid function test
TIA
transient ischemic attack
TLC
total lung capacity
TM
tympanic membrane
TMJ
temporomandibular joint
TNM
tumor, nodes, mets (used in cancer staging)
TOA
tubo-ovarian abscess
TPN
total parental nutrition
TSS
toxic shock syndrome
TURP
transurethral resection of the prostate
TVH
total vaginal hysterectomy
Tx
treatment
U
unit
UA
urinalysis
UE
upper extremity
ung
ointment
US
ultrasound
UTI
urinary tract infection
VF
ventricular fibrillation
VHD
valvular heart disease
VO
verbal order
VS
vital signs
VSD
ventricular septal defect
VSS
vital signs stable
VSSAF
vital signs stable, afebrile
W/C
wheelchair
WDWN
well developed, well nourished
Wk
week
w/n
within
WNL
within normal limits (commonly used in lab reports)
W/U
work-up
y/o
years old