Slang & Jargon Flashcards
a-fib, A-fib, or AFib
Atrial fibrillation (a severe cardiac arrhythmia)
alk phos
Alkaline phosphatase (a lab value for a chemical in the blood)
appy
Appendectomy or appendicitis (excision of the appendix or infection/inflammation of the appendix)
bicarb
Bicarbonate (one of the electrolytes, with sodium, potassium, and chloride)
bili
bilirubin (a lab value for liver function testing)
CBC with diff
CBC (complete blood count) with differential (the percentages of different types of white cells in the blood).
caps
Capsules (a form of medications)
cath
Catheter or catheterization (a tube or the placement of tubes in the body).
chemo
Chemotherapy (treatment with chemical compounds, usually referring to cancer regimens)
crit
Hematocrit (test for packed red cells in the blood)
DC
Discontinue or discharge, past tense DC’s sometimes dc/dc’d (acceptable in a clinic or nurse’s note but not in a formal document)
detox
Detoxification
dig
Digoxin or digitals; pronounced with a short i & g like j (medication for cardiac problems)
dis sesta
Dipyridamole sestabmibi (a nuclear x-ray exam)
double J stent
JJ stent (surgical device for keeping tubes in place)
echo
echocardiogram (record of heart function by analyzing sound waves)
eos
Eosinophils (white blood cells that are part of the CBC with differential)
exam
Examination
flex sig
Flexible sigmoidoscopy (inspection of the sigmoid, the S-shaped lower portion of the colon, with a flexible endoscopic instrument)
Foley
Foley catheter (a catheter commonly used during surgical procedures for draining urine from the bladder)
HCTZ
Hydrochlorothiazide (a medication for the control of hypertension and edema).
hem/onc
Hematology/oncology (the medical specialty that deals with cancer and blood problems)
hep C (A, B)
Hepatitis C (A, B) (liver disease characterized by infection and inflammation)
K
Potassium (the chemical symbol for the element potassium. This is an acceptable usage.)
KCl
Potassium chloride (the chemical formula for potassium chloride; it is often given to cardiac patients whose potassium is depleted by diuretic medications, such as Lasix. This is an acceptable usage.)
lac
laceration (a cut produced bu a trauma)
lymphs
Lymphocytes (another type of white blood cells included in the CBC with differential)
lytes
Electrolytes (usually sodium, potassium, chloride, & bicarbonate; they are blood chemistries evaluated in laboratory studies)
mag
Magnesium (a chemical in the blood, also a medication given for some medical conditions, such as alcohol overdose)
meds
medications (drugs given to patients; pharmacopeia)
mets
Metastases, singular met/metastasis (the spread of malignant neoplasm-cancer-from the primary site to one or more secondary sites)
migs
milligrams, written as mg (metric unit of measurement, the most common form of drug dosage)
mikes
Micrograms, written as mcg (metric unit of measurement smaller than the milligram, also used in some drug dosages)
monos
Monocytes (white blood cells that are a part of the CBC with differential)
nebs
Nebulizers (an aerated form of medications given for pulmonary problems such as asthma)
neuro
Neurological or neurology (referring to the medical specialty or to the part of the physical exam that evaluates neurologic or central nervous system function)
neuropsych
Neuropsychiatric or neuropsychiatry (pertaining to the study of the combination of neurology and psychiatry - often related, since both study brain function)
O2 sat
Oxygen saturation (the amount of oxygen present in the blood; measured by pulse oximetry)
path
Pathology (the study of the essential nature of disease, particularly as it relates to changes in tissue organs, etc. Also the cause of disease)
perf
perforation (a hole, as in perforated eardrum or perforated bowel)
preop
preoperative (before an operation). Occasionally, but rarely, a dictator will use the term preopped (alternative spelling preopp’d). This is not really a short form for anything that can reasonably be expanded without rewriting the sentence. It is an example of a slang term that “more accurately communicates meaning” than any possible expansion of it would.
postop
postoperative (after an operation)
prepped
prepared (a short form commonly used in surgical reports; e.g., “The patient was prepped and draped”)
pulse ox
pulse oximetry (the process of determining oxygen saturation by use of machine measurements)
regurg
regurgitation (flow in the opposite direction from normal, as in vomiting stomach contents or backward flow of the blood through vascular structures)
rehab
rehabilitation (the process of restoring normal form and function after injury or illness by means of physical, psychosocial, vocational, or recreational activities)
sat
saturation (a measure of the degree to which oxygen is bound to the hemoglobin in the blood; it is given as a percentage, and reflects pulmonary function)
sed rate
sedimentation rate (a laboratory value related to the action of red blood cells)
segs
segmented neutrophils (white blood cells that are part of the CBC differential)
t. bili
total bilirubin (a bile pigment that is measured in liver functions studies)
tabs
tablets (a form of medication, pills)
triple A
abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA, a cardiovascular anomaly)
V-tach
ventricular tachycardia (an increased ventricular heart rate)
voc rehab
vocational rehabilitation (rehabilitation for those who need to retrain in a former or new vocation due to illness or injury)
chole
cholecystectomy (excision of the gallbladder)
