This post intends to list all medical abbreviations used. * being updated. Current numbers 312
| a = before |
| A-line = arterial line |
| A&P = Anatomy and Phisiology |
| aa = of each (used in writing prescriptions) |
| abd = abdomen |
| ABG arterial blood gas |
| ac = before meals |
| ACLS = Advanced Cardiac Life Support |
| ad lib = as much as desired |
| ADL = activity of daily living |
| AED = automated external defi brillator |
| AF = atrial fibrillation |
| AIDS = acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| AK = Above the Knee |
| AKA = Above the Knee ambutation |
| AMA = against medical advice |
| amb = ambulatory |
| AMI = acute myocardial infarction |
| AMS = altered mental status |
| ant = anterior |
| AO × 4 = alert and oriented to person, place, time, and self |
| AP = anteroposterior, front-toback, action potential, angina pectoris, anterior pituitary, arterial pressure |
| APC = atrial premature complex, activated protein C, aspirinphenacetin-caffeine |
| Aq = water |
| ARDS = adult respiratory distress syndrome |
| ASA = aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) |
| ASAP = as soon as possible |
| ASHD = arteriosclerotic or atherosclerotic heart disease |
| AV, A-V = atrioventricular, arteriovenous |
| BBB = bundle branch block |
| bid = twice daily |
| BKA = below the knee amputation |
| BM = bowel movement |
| BP = blood pressure |
| BS = blood sugar, breath sounds,bowel sounds, bachelor of science (degree) |
| BSA = body surface area |
| bx = biopsy |
| C = degrees Celsius (centigrade) |
| c = with |
| c/o = complaining of |
| Ca = calcium |
| CA = cancer, cardiac arrest, chronologic age, coronary artery, cold agglutinin |
| CABG = coronary artery bypass graft |
| CAD = coronary artery disease |
| CBC = complete blood count |
| cc = cubic centimeter |
| CC or C/C = chief complaint |
| CCU = coronary care unit |
| CHF = congestive heart failure |
| Cl = chloride |
| cm = centimeter |
| cm3 = cubic centimeter |
| CNS = central nervous system |
| 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 refi ll time, cathode-ray tube |
| CSF = cerebrospinal fluid |
| CSM =carotid sinus massage, cerebrospinal meningitis |
| CVA = cerebrovascular accident |
| CVP = central venous pressure |
| CXR = chest x-ray |
| D/C = discontinue |
| D&C = dilation and curettage |
| D5W = dextrose 5% in water |
| diff = differential |
| dig = digoxin |
| DM = diabetes mellitus |
| DOA = dead on arrival |
| DOE = dyspnea on exertion |
| DON director of nursing |
| DOS = dead on scene |
| DPT = diphtheria, pertussis,and tetanus toxoids vaccine |
| DSD = dry sterile dressing |
| DtaP = diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine |
| DTP = diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine |
| DTs = delirium tremens |
| DVT = deep venous thrombosis |
| Dx = diagnosis |
| ECG = electrocardiogram |
| ED = emergency department |
| EDC = estimated date of confinement |
| EEG = electroencephalogram |
| eg = for example on |
| EKG = electrocardiogram |
| ENT = ears, nose, and throat |
| equal sign corssed MILAN = not equal |
| ER = emergency room |
| ET = endotracheal tube, endotracheal |
| ETA = estimated time of arrival |
| ETOH = ethyl alcohol |
| ETT = endotracheal tube |
| F = degrees Fahrenheit |
| 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 = gram |
| GB = gallbladder |
| GI = gastrointestinal |
| gm = gram |
| gr = grain |
| GSW = gunshot wound ure |
| gtt = drop(s) |
| GTT = glucose tolerance test |
| GU = genitourinary |
| gyn = gynecology |
| h = hour |
| H = hypodermic |
| H written as (H) = hypodermic |
| H/A = headache |
| H&H = hemoglobin and hematocrit |
| H&P = history and physical |
| H2O = Water |
| H2O2 = hydrogen peroxide |
| Hb = hemoglobin |
| Hct = hematocrit |
| Hg = mercury |
| Hgb = hemoglobin |
| HH = hiatal hernia |
| HIV = human immunodefienency virus |
| HPI = history of present illness |
| hr = hour |
| hs = at bedtime |
| HTN = hypertension |
| http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763779306/Medical%20Terminology.pdf |
| Hx = history |
| Hz = hertz |
| I&O = intake and output |
| IC = intracardiac, inspiratory capacity, irritable colon |
| ICP = intracranial pressure |
| ICU = intensive care unit |
| IDDM = insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
| IM = intramuscular |
| IO = intraosseous |
| IPPB =intermittent positive pressure breathing |
| IUD = intrauterine (contraceptive) device |
| IV = intravenous |
| JVD = jugular venous distenti |
| K+ = potassium |
| KCl =potassium chloride |
| kg = kilogram |
| KUB = kidneys, ureters, and bladder |
| KVO = keep vein open |
| L = liter |
| L/M = liters per minute |
| L= left |
| LAC = laceration, laparoscopicassisted colectomy |
| lb = pound |
| LE = lower extremity, left eye, lupus erythematosus |
| LLL = left lower lobe of the lung |
| LLQ = left lower quadrant of the abdomen |
| LMP = last menstrual period |
| LOC = level of consciousness, loss of consciousness |
| LPM = liters per minute |
| LPN = licensed practical nurse |
| LR = Lactated Ringer’s |
| LSD = lysergic acid diethylamide |
| LUL = left upper lobe of the lung |
| LUQ = left upper quadrant of the abdomen |
| LVN = licensed vocational nurse |
| m = meter |
| MAE = moves all extremities |
| MAEW = moves all extremities well |
| MAP = mean arterial press |
| mcg = microgram |
| MCL = midclavicular line, modified chest lead |
| mEq = milliequivalent |
| mg = milligram (mgm is a former symbol) |
| MI = myocardial infarction |
| MICU = mobile intensive care unit, medical intensive care unit |
| min = minute |
| mL = milliliter |
| mm = millimeter |
| mm Hg = millimeters of mercury |
| MRI = magnetic resonance imaging |
| MS = morphine sulfate, multiple sclerosis |
| MSO4 = morphine sulfate |
| MVA = motor vehicle accident |
| MVC = motor vehicle crash |
| MVP = mitral valve prolapse |
| N = normal |
| N/V = nausea and vomiting |
| N/V/D = nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea |
| Na = sodium |
| NA, N/A = not applicable |
| NaCl = sodium chloride |
| NAD = no apparent distress, no appreciable disease |
| NaHCO3 = sodium bicarbonate |
| 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 |
| NPA = nasopharyngeal airway |
| NPO = nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
| NS = normal saline |
| NSR = normal sinus rhythm |
| NTG = nitroglycerin |
| NVD = neck vein distention |
| Ø = no, not, none |
| O2 = oxygen |
| OB = obstetrics |
| OBS = organic brain syndrome |
| OD = overdose, right eye, optical density, outside diameter, doctor of optometry |
| OP = outpatient |
| OPA = oropharyngeal airway |
| OR = operating room |
| OS = left eye |
| OU= both eyes |
| oz = ounce |
| p = after |
| pc = after meals |
| PCO2 = partial pressure of carbon dioxide |
| PDR = Physicians' Desk Reference |
| 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 = pupils equal and reactive to light |
| PERRL = pupils equal, round, and reactive to light |
| pH = hydrogen ion concentration |
| PID = pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PND = paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea |
| po = per os (by mouth) |
| PO = postoperative, “post op” |
| PO2 = partial pressure of oxygen |
| 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 |
| PTT = partial thromboplastin time |
| PVC = premature ventricular complex, polyvinyl chloride |
| PVD = peripheral vascular disease |
| q = every |
| qd = every day |
| qh = every hour |
| qid = four times a day |
| qod = every other day |
| R/O = rule out |
| RA = rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium |
| RAD = reactive airway disease, right axis deviation |
| RBC = red blood cell |
| Rh = Rhesus blood factor, rhodium |
| RHD = rheumatic heart disease |
| RL = Ringer’s lactate |
| RLL = right lower lobe of the lung |
| RLQ = right lower quadrant of the abdomen |
| RN = registered nurse |
| ROM = range of motion, rupture of membranes |
| RUL = right upper lobe of the lung |
| RUQ = right upper quadrant of the abdomen |
| Rx = prescription |
| s = without |
| S/S = signs and symptoms |
| SC = subcutaneous, secretory component |
| SICU = surgical intensive care unit |
| SIDS = sudden infant death syndrome |
| SL = sublingual |
| SOB = shortness of breath |
| SQ = subcutaneous |
| ss = half |
| stat = immediately |
| STD = sexually transmitted disease |
| Sub Q = subcutaneous |
| SVT = supraventricular |
| SVT = supraventricular tachycardia |
| Sx = symptoms |
| sym = symptoms |
| tab = tablet |
| TB = tuberculosis |
| TBA = to be admitted, to be announced |
| tbsp = tablespoon |
| tech = technician, technologist |
| TIA = transient ischemic attack |
| tid = three times a day |
| TKO = to keep open |
| TPR = temperature, pulse, respeiration |
| tsp = teaspoon |
| Tx = treatment |
| U = unit |
| UA urinalysis |
| UE = upper extremity |
| URI = upper respiratory infection |
| USP = United States Pharmacopeia |
| UTI = urinary tract infection |
| VD = venereal disease |
| vol = volume |
| VS = vital signs |
| w/ = with |
| w/o = without |
| WBC = white blood cell |
| WNL = within normal limits |
| wt = weight |
| x = except |
| X2 = times two |
| yo = year old |