Medical Abbreviations Flashcards
ā
before
ā ā
of each
abd
abdomen
ac
before or with meals
ACG
angiocardiography
A.D.
right ear
A.D.A.
American Diabetic Association
ADD
average daily dose
ADLs
activities of daily living
ad lib
as desired
Adm
admission, admitted
A.F.
atrial fibrillation
AFB
acid-fast bacillus
AgNO3
silver nitrate
AIDS
acquired immune deficiency
AK
above the knee
AKA
also known as OR above the knee
ALL
acute lymphocyctic leukemia
am
morning of before noon
AMA
against medical advice
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
amps
ampule
amt
amount
angio
angiogram
ant
anterior
ante
before
A & O
alert and oriented
A-P
anterior and posterior
Ap
apical pulse
approx
approximately
ARDS
adult respiratory distress syndrome
AROM
active range of motion
A.S.
left ear
ASA
aspirin
ASD
atrial seotal defect
ASHD
arteriosclerotic vascular heart disease
A.T.
atrial tachycardia
ATL
achilles tendon lengthening
A.U.
both ears
A-V
arteriovenous
AWOL
absent without leave
Ax
axilla
B.A.
blood alcohol
BBB
bundle branch block
BBS
bilateral breath sounds
B & C
board and care
BCP
birth control pills
BE
barium enema
bid
twice a day
bilat
bilateral
BK
below the knee
BKA
below the knee amputation
BI. 1, 2, 3, 4
Bland 1, 2, 3, 4
BM
bowel movement
BMI
body mass index
BMR
basal metabolic rate
BP
blood pressure
BPH
benign prostatic hypertrophy
BR
bathroom
Brady
bradycardia
BRN
Board of Registered Nursing
BRP
bathroom privileges
BS
breath sounds OR blood sugar
BSP
bromsulphalein
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
c (with line over top of it)
with
C
Centigrade
Ca
cancer or calcium
C & A
urine glucose test and acetest
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
cal
calorie
CAPD
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
caps
capsule
CAT (EMI)
computerized axial tomograph
cath
catheter
CBC
complete blood count
cc
cubic centimeter
c/c
chief complaint
CCU
coronary care unit OR cardiac care unit
cert.
certification
CHB
complete heart block
CHD
coronary heart disease
chemo
chemotherapy
CHF
congestive heart failure
chg
charge
CHO
carbohydrate
Chol
cholesterol
Clysis
hypodermoclycis
CNS
central nervous system
c/o
complaining of
COLD
chronic obstructive lung disease
Comp
compound
cond
condition
cont
continuously
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP
cerebral palsy OR chest pain
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Crani
craniotomy
CRF
chronic renal failure
C & S
culture and sensitivity
CSF
cerebral spinal fluid
CT scan
computerized tomography scan
CVA
cerebral vascular accident
CVI
cerebral vascular insufficiency
CVP
central venous pressure
cysto
cystocopy
CXR
chest x-ray
d
day
D & C
dilation and curettage
d/c
discontinue
D & E
dilation and evacuation
Diab
diabetic
DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulation
dil
dilute
Disc or D/C
discontinue
disp
disposition
DJD
degenerative joint disease
D. LR
dextrose in Lactated Ringer’s
DM
Diabetes mellitus
DNR
do not resuscitate
DO
doctor of osteopathy
DOA
dead on arrival
DOB
date of birth
DPAHC
durable power of attorney for health care
DPT
diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccine
dr
dram
drng
drainage
drsgs
dressings
D/S
dextrose in saline
DSD
dry, sterile dressing
DTR
deep tendon flex
DTs
delirium tremors
DUB
dysfunctional uterine bleeding
D/W
dextrose in water
Dx
diagnosis
EBL
estimated blood loss
ECT
electroconvulsive therapy
ED
Emergency Department
EDC
estimated date of confinement
EEG
electroencephalogram
EENT
eye, ear, nose, and throat
EOM
extraocular movement
ER
emergency room
ESRF
end stage renal failure
EST
electroshock therapy
et or &
and
eta
estimated time of arrival
ETOH
ethanolism, alcoholism, under and intoxicated state
ETT
endotracheal tube
eval
evaluate, evaluation
exp
expiratory
extr
extract
F
Fahrenheit OR female
FB
foreign body
FBS
fasting blood sugar
f/c
Foley catheter
fe
iron
F.F.
force fluid
F.H.
family history
FHT
fetal heart tones
FLB
funny looking beat
fld
fluid
FNP
family nurse practitioner
Fr
French
frq.
frequent
FSBG
finger stick blood glucose
FSBS
finger stick blood sugar
FSH
follicular stimulating hormone
F/U
follow up
FUO
fever of underdetermined origin
FVC
forced vital capacity
Fx
fracture
G#, P#, SAB#, TAB#
gravida, para, spontaneous abortion, therapeutic abortion
GB
gallbladder
gd.
good
gen
general
GI
gastrointestinal
glu
glucose
glut.
gluteal
Gm
gram
GOT
glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
GP
general practitioner of medicine
gr
grain
grav.
gravida
GSW
gunshot wound
GTT
glucose tolerance test
gtt.
drop
GU
genitourinary
G & W
glycerine and water
GYN
gynecology
H
hour
H2O2
hydrogen peroxide
H or “H”
by hypodermic
HA
headache
H.B.
heart block
hct
hematocrit
HCTZ
hydrochlorothiazide
hep A, B, C
Hepatitis A, B, C
Hgb or Hb
hemoglobin
HHA
home health aid
h/o
history of
HOB
head of bed
HOH
hard of hearing
H & P
history and physical
HR
heart rate
HS
hour of sleep
h.s.
just before bedtime
HTN
hypertension
hwb
hot water bottle
Hx
history
hyster
hysterectomy
I
iodine, iodide
IBC
iron-binding capacity
ICP
intracranial pressure
ICU
intensive care unit
I & D
incision and drainage
IDDM
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IHD
ischemic heart disease
IM
intramuscular
Imp.
impression
INH
isoniazide
inj.
injection
I & O
intake and output
IPPB
intermittent positive pressure breathing
irreg
irregular
Isol
isolation
iss
one and one half
IUD
intrauterine device
IV
intravenous
IVP
intravenous pyelogram or push
IVPB
intravenous piggyback
IZ
immunization
J.H.S. 1, 2, 3
Jejunal hypersmolality syndrome
Jt.
joint
JVD
jugular vein distention
K+
potassium
KCl
potassium chloride
kg
kilogram
KO
keep open
KUB
kidney, ureter, bladder
L
liter
L (with circle around it) or Lt.
left
Lab
laboratory
Lac
lactose
lac.
laceration
LAC
left antecubital
Lap
laporotomy
Lat
lateral
LBBB
left bundle branch block
LCSW
licensed clinical social worker
L & D
labor and delivery
LE
lower extremity
Lipo. 1,2,3,4
Hyperlipoproteinemia
Liq
liquid
LLC
long leg cast
LLE
left lower extremity
LLL
left lower lobe
LLQ
left lower quadrant
LMD
local medical doctor
LMP
last menstrual period
LNMP
last normal menstrual period
LOC
level of consciousness
LP
lumbar puncture
ls
lumbosacral
l. spine
lumbar spine
LUE
left upper extremity
LUL
left upper lobe
LUOQ
left upper outer quadrant
LUQ
left upper quadrant
LVN
licensed vocational nurse
L & W
living and well
M
male
m
minimum
ma. or maj.
major
MAE
moves all extremities
max
maximal
mcg
micrograms
MD
medical doctor OR muscular dystrophy
Mec.
meconium
Mech. Soft
mechanical soft
med
medical
med.
medicine
meg
microgram
MEQ
milliequivalent
mEq/L
milliequivalent per liter
mg or mgm
milligram
MgSO4
magnesium sulfate
mgtts
microdrops
MHU
mental health unit
MI
myocardial infarction
min
minimum or minute
ml
milliliter
mm
millimeter
mod
moderate
M & R
measure and record
MR
may repeat
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MS
multiple sclerosis OR mitral stenosis
mtg.
meeting
muc.
mucus
MVA
motor vehicle accident
MVI
multiple vitamin injection
Na
sodium
n/a
not applicable
NaCl
sodium chloride
NAD
no apparent distress
n/c
nasal cannula
neg
negative
Neuro.
neurology
NG
nasogastric
NKA
no known allergies
NKDA
no known drug allergies
Nl/
normal
noc.
night, nocturnal
N.P.
Nurse Practitioner
NPN
non-protein nitrogen
NPO
nothing by mouth
NS
normal saline
N.S.
neurosurgery
Nsg
nursing
NSR
normal sinus rhythm
N & T
nose and throat
n.t.
nontender
N.T.
nodal tachycardia
NTG
nitroglycerin
N & V, n/v
nausea and vomiting
O2
oxygen
“O”
oral
OA
osteoarthritis
OB
obstetrics
occas.
occasional
OCp
oral contraceptives
OD, o.d.
right eye
oint.
ointment
o.m.
every morning
o.n.
every night
OOB
out of bed
OP
outpatient OR operation
OPD
outpatient department
Opth.
ophthalmology
OR
operating room
ORIF
open reduction with internal fixation
Ortho.
orthopedics
ortho VS
orthopedic vital signs
os
per mouth
OS, o.s.
left eye
OT
occupational therapy
OTC
over the counter
O.U.
both eyes
p
pulse
__
p
after, past
PA
physician assistant
PAC
premature atrial contraction
PACU
post anesthesia care unit
palp.
palpatation
Pap Smear
Papanicolaou’s Smear Test
para
parous, having borne one or more children
PAT
paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
Path.
pathology
PBI
protein bound iodine
p.c.
after meals
PCA
patient controlled analgesia
pcn
Penicillin
PCV
packed cell volume
PDR
Physician’s Desk Reference
P.E.
physical examination
Ped.
pediatrics
per
through or by
perc.
percutaneous
periph.
peripheral
PERLA
pupils equally reactive to light and accommodation
P.H.
past history
P.I.
present illness
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
PM
after noon
PMD
private medical doctor
PNC
premature nodal contraction
pneumo.
pneumothorax
PNT
paroxysmal nodal tachycardia
po OR p.o.
by mouth
P-O OR PO
postoperative
P.O.
phone order
port
portable
post-
after
Post-op
after operation
pp
postprandial
PPB
positive pressure breathing
PPBS
postprandial blood sugar
PPD
purified protein derivative (TB test)
pr
per rectum
pre-
before
pre-op
before operation
prep
preparation, prepare for
prn
whenever necessary
PRO
protein
Pro. Time
prothrombin time
procto
proctoscopy
Prog. Sip
Progessive Sippy
PROM
passive range of motion
PSP
phenolsulfonaphthalein
pt
patient
P.T.
physical therapy
PTA
prior to admission
PTD
permanent total disability
PVC
peripheral vascular disease
p/w/d
pale, warm, dry
q
each, every
q 2h
every 2 hours
q.am
every morning
qd, q.d.
every day
qh
every hour
qid (q.i.a)
four times a day
q.n.
every night
qns
quantity not sufficient
qod (q.o.a)
every other day
qs
quantity sufficient
quad.
quadriceps
quan.
quantity
® or Rt.
right
(R)
rectal
R.A.
rheumatoid arthritis
RAC
right antecubital
RBBB
right bundle branch block
RBC
red blood cells/ red blood count
RDS
respiratory distress syndrome
Re:
regarding, about
rec/d.
received
reg, reg.
regular
REM
rapid eye movement
res
residue
resp
respiration
rest. fl.
restrict fluid
ret’d
returned
retro
retrograde
RF
rheumatoid factor/ rheumatic fever
Rh
Rhesus
RHD
rheumatic heart disease
RLE
right lower extremity
RLL
right lower lobe
RLQ
right lower quadrant
r/o, R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion
ROS
review of systems
RR
recovery room
r/t
related to
rsp.
respirations or respiratory
RSR
regular sinus rhythm
RUA
right upper arm
RUL
right upper lobe
RUQ
right upper quadrant
Rx
prescription, treatment, therapy
_
s
without
S3
3rd heart sound (ventricular gallop)
S4
4th heart sound (atrial gallop)
sat.
saturated
sc.
scant
Sed.
sedimentation
sens.
sensation or sensitivity
SGOT
serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase
SGPT
serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
Sig
let it be labeled
sl.
slight
SLR
straight leg raising
SMR
submucous resection
SOAP
subjective, objective, analysis, plan
SOB
shortness of breath
sol
solution
sos
if necessary
spec
specimen
spont.
spontaneous
sq or subq
subcutaneous
_ _
s s
one half
SS
soap solution
SSH
social history
SSKI
saturated solution of potassium iodide
st
sterile
ST or S. tach
sinus tachycardia
stat, STAT
at once, immediately
STD
sexually transmitted disease
subl, sub ling.
sublingual
subq
subcutaneous
supp
suppositories
Surg
surgery, surgical
SVT
supraventricular tachycardia
syr
syrup
syst.
systolic
sx.
symptoms
T
temperature OR tablespoon
t & a
time and amount
T & A
tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
tab
tablet
TAB
therapeutic abortion
TAH
total abdominal hysterectomy
TB
tuberculosis
T & C
type and crossmatch
TCBD
turn, cough, deep breathe
TCU
transitional care unit or telemetry care unit
TIA
transient ischemic attack
tid, t.i.d.
three times a day
TKO
to keep open
TLC
total lung capacity OR tender loving care
T.O.
telephone order
tol.
tolerate(d)
TPR
temperature, pulse and respiration
Tr
tincture
TSH
thyroid stimulating hormone
TUR
transurethral resection
TURP
transurethral resection of prostate
Tw
tap water
tx
traction
U
unit
UA
urinalysis
UE
upper extremity
UGI
upper G.I.
ung
ointment
UOQ
upper outer quadrant
URI
upper respiratory infection
Urol.
urology
UTI
urinary tract infection
V-A
ventriculoatoneal
vag
vaginal
vd
voided
VD
venereal disease
VDRL
venereal disease research laboratory test
V. Fib
ventricular fibrillation
via
by way of
V.M.A.
vanilla mandelic acid
VNA
Visiting Nurses Association
V.O.
verbal order
Vol
volume
VS
vital signs
VSD
ventricular septal defect
VSS
vital signs stable
V.T., V. Tach
ventricular tachycardia
War. Blend
Waring Blender
WBC
while blood cells
w/c or W/C
wheelchair
W & D
warm and dry
WISC
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children test
WNL
within normal limits
WLWD
well-nourished, well-developed
w/o
without
WPW
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
wt
weight
x
times or except for
yr
year
y/o
year old
Z/G or ZIG
zoster immune globulin
@
at
+ or ^
increased, above, elevated, plus
up arrow
increased
− or ∨
decreased, below, negative, minus
down arrow
decreased
>
is greater than
<
is less than
≥
is greater than or equal to
≤
is less than or equal to
=
equal to
≠
not equal to
~=
approximately
±
plus or minus
?
questionable
circle with a line through it
none
Δ
change
✓
check
°
degree
1°
first degree
2°
second degree
3°
third degree
⇒
to, toward
2
secondary to
–
negative
ll
parallel
1:1
one-to-one