MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (ABBREVIATIONS) Flashcards
A&P
anatomy and physiology
a
before
aa
of each
ABC
airway, breathing, circulation
abd
abdomen
ABG
arterial blood gas
ac
before meals
AC
antecubital fossa
ACLS
advanced cardiac life support
ad lib
as much as desired
ADL
activity of daily living
AED
automated external defibrillator
AF
atrial fibrillation
AICD
acquired immunodeficiency defibrillator
AIDS
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AK
above the knee
AKA
above the knee amputation
A-line
arterial line
ALS
advanced life support
AMA
against medical advice
amb
ambulatory
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
AMS
altered mental status
ant
anterior
AOx3
alert and oriented to person, time and place
AOB
alcohol on breath
AP
anteroposterior
APAP
acetaminophen
APC
atrial premature complex, activated protein C, aspirin phenacetin caffeine
Aq
water
ARDS
acuter respiratory distress syndrome
ASA
aspirin
ASAP
as soon as possible
ASHD
arteriosclerotic or atherosclerotic heart disease
AV,A-V
atrioventricular, arteriovenous
AVPU
alert, verbal, pain, unresponsiveness
BBB
bundle branch block
BG
blood glucose
BGL
blood glucose level
bid
twice daily
bilat
bilaterally
BKA
below the knee amputation
BLS
basic life support
BM
bowel movement
BP
blood pressure
bpm
beats per minute
BS
breath sounds, blood sugar, bowel sounds, bachelor of science
BSA
body surface area
bx
biopsy
c
with
C
celsius
C2
code2, non emergent
C3
code3, emergent
Ca
calcium
CA
cancer, cardiac arrest, chronological age, coronary artery, cold agglutinin
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
CAO
conscious, alert and oriented
CBC
complete blood count
CC or C/C
chief complaint
CCT
critical care transport
CCU
coronary care unti
CHB
complete heart block
CHF
congestive heart failure
CHI
closed head injury
Cl-
chloride
clr
clear
cm
centimeter
cm^3
cubic centimeter
CMS
circulation, movement, sensation
CNS
central nervous system
c/o
complaining of
CO
cardiac output, carbon monoxide
CO2
carbon dioxide
COLD
chronic obstructive lung disease
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP
chest pain, chemically pure, cerebral palsy
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRNA
certified registered nurse anesthetist
CRT
capillary refill time
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CSM
carotid sinus massage, cerebrospinal meningitis
c-spine
cervical spine
CT
computerized tomography
CTA
clear to auscultation
CTL
cervial, thoracic, lumbar
CVA
cerebrovascular
CVP
central venous pressure
Cx
chest
CXR
chest x-ray
D50
dextrose 50%
D5W
dextrose 5% in water
D&C
dilation and curettage
defib
defibrillation
diff
differential
dig
digoxin
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis
DM
diabetes mellitus
DOA
dead on arrival
DOE
dyspnea on exertion
DON
director of nursing
DOS
dead on scene
DPT
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine
DSD
dry sterile dressing
DtaP
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine
DTP
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine
DTs
delirium tremens
DVT
deep vein thrombosis
Dx
diagnosis
ECG
electrocardiogram
ED
emergency department
EDC
estimated date of confinement
EEG
electroencephalogram
eg
for example
EKG
electrocardiogram
EMS
emergency medical services
ENT
ears nose and throat
ER
emergency room
ET
endotracheal tube,endotracheal
ETA
estimated time of arrival
ETOH
ethyl alcohol
ETT
endotracheal tube
Exp
expansion
F
degrees fahrenheit
FA
forearm
FBS
fasting blood sugar
Fe
iron
FHR
fetal heart rate
FHT
fetal heart tones
FHx
family history
FIO2
fraction of inspired oxygen
fL
femtoliter
fl
fluid
fld
fluid
FSH
follicle stimulating hormone
fx
fracture
g
fram
GB
gallbladder
GCS
glasgow coma scale
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GI
gastrointestinal
gm
gram
gr
grain
GSW
gunshot wound
gtt
drop
GTT
glucose tolerance test
GU
genitourinary
gyn
gynecology
h
hour
(H)
hypodermic
H
hypodermic
H&H
hemoglobin and hematocrit
H&P
history and physical
H/A
headache
H/P
history and physical
Hb
hemoglobin
HB
heart block
Hct
hematocrit
HEENT
head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat
Hg
mercury
Hgb
hemoglobin
HH
hiatal hernia
HI
head injury
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
H2O
water
H2O2
hydrogen peroxide
hosp
hospital
HPI
history of present illness
hr
hour
HR
heart rate
HTN
hypertension
Hx
history
Hz
hertz
I&O
intake and output
IC
intracardiac, inspiratory capacity, irritable colon
ICP
intracranial pressure
ICS
intercostal space
IDDM
insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IM
intramuscular
IO
intraosseous
IPPB
intermittent positive pressure breathing
IUD
intrauterine device
IV
intranvenous
IVP
intravenous push
J
joule
JVD
jugular venous distension
K+
potassium
KCl
potassium chloride
KED
kendrick extrication device
kg
kilogram
KUB
kidneys, ureters, and bladder
KVO
keep vein open
L
liter
LAC
laceration, laparoscopic assisted colectomy
LAD
left anterior descending, left axis deviation
LAH
left anterior hemiblock
lb
pound
LBB
left bundle branch block
LE
lower extremity
LGL
down-ganong-levine syndrome
LLL
left lower lobe of lung
LLQ
left lower quadrant
L/M
liters per minute
LMP
last menstrual period
LOC
loss of conciousness
LPH
left posterior hemiblock
LPM
liters per minute
LPN
licensed practical nurse
LR
lactated ringer’s
LS
lung sounds
LSB
long spine board
LSD
lysergic acid diethylamide
LUL
left upper lobe of lung
LUQ
left upper quandrant
LVN
licensed vocational nurse
m
meter
mA
milliamps
MAE
moves all extremities
MAEW
moves all extremities well
MAP
mean arterial pressure
MAST
medical antishock trouser
MCA
motorcycle accident
mcg
microgram
MCL
midclavicular line, modified chest lead
meds
medications
mEq
milliequivalents
mg
milligram
MI
myocardial infarction
MICU
mobile intensive care unit
min
minute
mL
milliliter
mm
millimeter
mm Hg
millimeters of mercury
MOE
movement of extremity
MOI
mechanism of injury
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MVA
motor vehicle accident
MVC
motor vehicle collision
MVP
mitral valve prolapse
N
normal
Na
sodium
NA, N/A
sodium
NaCl
sodium chloride
NAD
no apparent distress
NaHCO3
sodium bicarbonate
NARD
no apparent respiratory distress
NATO
not able to obtain
NEB
nebulizer
NETT
nasal endotracheal tube
NC
nasal cannula
NG
nasogastric
NICU
neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA
no known allergies
NKDA
no known drug allergies
NL
nonlabored
NP
nasopharyngeal
NPA
nasopharyngeal airway
NPO
nil per os aka nothing by mouth
NRB
nonrebreathing mask
NS
normal saline
NSR
normal sinus rhythm
NTG
nitroglycerin
N/V
nausea and vomitting
N/V/D
nausea vomitting diarrhea
NVD
neck vein distension
O2
oxygen
OB
obstetrics
OBS
organic brain syndrome
Occ
occipital
OETT
oral endotracheal tube
OM
otitis media
OP
outpatient
OPA
oropharyngeal airway
OR
operating room
OS
left eye
OU
right eye
oz
ounce
p
after
PA
physician assistant
PAC
premature atrial contraction
palp
palpation
PASG
pneumatic antishock garment
pc
after meals
pCO2
partial pressure of carbon dioxide
PDR
physician desk referece
PE
pulmonary embolism, physical examination
PEA
pulseless electrical activity
PEARL
pupils equal and reactive to light
ped(s)
pediatric
PEEP
positive end expiratory pressure
PERL
pupil equal and reactive to light
PERRL
pupils, equal, and reactive to light
PG
pregnant
P#/G#
para#/gravida#
pH
hydrogen ion concentration
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
PJC
premature junctional contraction
PMS
pulse, movement, sensation
PN
pneumonia
PND
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
po
per os
PO
postoperative
PO2
partial pressure or oxygen
POP
pain on palpation
post
posterior
PR
per rectum
PRI
P-R interval (relating ECG)
PRN
pro re nata (as needed)
psi
pounds per square inch
PSVT
paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
pt
patient
PT
physical therapy
PTA
prior to admission, plasma thromboplastin antecedent
PTSD
post traumatic stress disorder
PTT
partial thromboplastin time
PVC
premature ventricular complex, polyvinyl chloride
PVD
peripheral vascular disease
Px
pain
q
every
RA
rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium, room air
RAD
reactive airway disease, right axis deviation, radial pulse
RBB
right bundle branch block
RBC
red blood cell
RCA
right circumflex artery
resp
respiration
Rh
rhesus blood factor, rhodium
RHD
rheumatic heart disease
RL
ringer’s lactate
RLL
right lower lobe
RLQ
right lower quadrant
RN
registered nurse
R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion, rupture of membranes
ROSC
return of spontaneous circulation
RR
respiratory rate
RSI
rapid sequence intubation
RUL
right upper lobe
RUQ
right upper quadrant
Rx
prescription
s
without
SAO2
oxygen saturation
sec
second
SICU
surgical intensive care unit
SIDS
sudden infant death syndrome
SL
sublingual
SMOE
sensory, movement of extremity
SOB
shortness of breath
s/p
status post
SPO2
oxygen saturation
SQETCO2
semi-quantitative end-tidal CO2
S/S
signs and symptoms
ST
S-T segment elevation relative to ECG
stat
immediately
STD
sexually transmitted disease
Sub Q
subcutaneous
sux
succinycholine
SVT
supra ventricular tachycardia
Sx
symptoms
sym
symptoms
synch
synchronous
sz
seizure
TA
traffic accident
tab
tablet
TB
tuberculosis
TBA
to be admitted, to be announced
tbsp
table spoon
TCA
tricyclic antidepressant
TCP
transcutaneous pacemaker
tech
technician, technologist
temp
temperature
TIA
transient ischemic attack
tid
three times daily
TKO
to keep open
TPR
temperature, pulse, respiration
trans
transport
tsp
teaspoon
Tx
treatment
U/A
upon arrival
UA
urinanalysis
UE
upper extremity
UGI
upper GI
URI
upper respiratory infection
USP
united states pharmacopeia
UTI
urinary tract infection
V
volt
VD
venereal disease
VF
ventricular fibrillation
V fib
ventricular fibrillation
vol
volume
VS
vital signs
VT
ventricular tachycardia
V tach
ventricular tachycardia
w/
with
WBC
white blood cell
W/D/G
warm dry good skin
WNL
within normal limits
w/o
without
WPW
wolfs-parkinson-white syndrome
wt
weight
yo
year old
x
except
1
first
2
secondary
x2
times two
/
per
?
questionable, possible