Abbreviations English

download complete list

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AA	African American; Alcoholics Anonymous
AAA	Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
ab, abd	abdominal
AB	abortion; antibody
ABG	arterial blood gas
ABP	arterial blood pressure
ABx	antibiotics
ac	ante cibium (before meals)
ACE-I	angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor
ACU	ambulatory care unit
ADA	American Diabetes Association
ADL	activity of daily living
Adm	admission
AE	air entry
AF	atrial fibrillation
AGN	acute glomerulonephritis; antigen
AI	aortic insufficieny
AICA	anterior inferior cerebellar artery
AKA	above-knee amputation
alb	albumin
Alc	alcohol
ALL	acute lymphocytic leukaemia
AMA	against medical advice
amb	ambulate
AMI	acute myocardial infarction
AML	acute myelocytic leukaemia
Amp	ampule
AND	axillary node dissection
Angio	angiography
AODM	adult onset diabetes mellitus
A & O	alert and orientated
A & P	assessment and plans; auscultation and percussion
APPY	appendectomy
ARB	angiotensin II receptor blocker
ARF	acute renal failure
AS	aortic (valvular) stenosis; (auris sinistra) left ear
ASA	(acetylsalicylic acid) aspirin
ASAP	as soon as possible
ASCVD	arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASD	atrial septal defect
ATN	acute tubular necrosis
ATU	ambulatory treatment unit
AVJ	atrio-ventricular junction
AVR	aortic valvular replacement

bd	(bis in die) twice a day
BE	barium enema
BIBA	brought in by ambulance
BKA	below-knee amputation
BLD	blood
BM	bowel movement; bone marrow
BP	blood pressure
BPH	benign prostatic hypertrophy
BR	bed rest
brady	bradycardia
BRBPR	bright red blood per rectum
BS	bowel sounds; breath sounds; blood sugar
BUN	blood urea nitrogen
BW	blood work
Bx	biopsy

Ca	carcinoma
CABG	coronary artery bypass graft
CAD	coronary artery disease
Caps	capsule
CAT	computerized axial tomography
Cath	catheter
CBC	complete blood count
CC	chief complaint
C/C/E	clubbing, cynosis, edema
CDB	cough, deep breath
CF	cystic fibrosis
CGN	chronic glomerulonephritis
CHD	congenital heart disease
CHF	congestive heart failure
C(P)K-MB	creatinine (phosphor)kinase heart
CP	chest pain
CMV	cytomegalovirus
CN	cranial nerve(s)
CNS	central nervous system
CO	cardiac output
COAD	chronic obstructive airways disease
coags	coagulation
COPD	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPR	cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPT	chest physiotherapy
Cr	creatinine
CRF	chronic renal failure
CS	caesarean section
CSF	cerebrospinal fluid
C.T.	chest tube
CVA	cerebrovascular accident
CVP	central venous pressure
CVS	cardiovascular system
CX	cervix
CXR	chest x-ray

D (Brit.)	dioptre
d	days
D/C	discontinue; discharge
DD	differential diagnosis
decr	decreasing
DIC	disseminated intravascular coagulation
diff	differential count
Disch	discharge
disp	disposition
DJD	degenerative joint disease
DKA	diabetic ketoacidosis
DLE	disseminated lupus erythematosus
DM	diabetes mellitus
DNR	do not resuscitate
DOA	dead on arrival
DOB	date of birth
DOE	dyspnea on exertion
DPT	diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (triple vaccine)
DR	delivery room
Ds	disease
Dsg	dressing
DT	delirium tremens
DTRs	deep tendon reflexes
DTV	due to void
DU	duodenal ulcer
DVT	deep vein thrombosis
Dx	diagnosis

ECF	extracellular fluid
ECT	electroconvulsive therapy
EDC	estimated date of confinement
EF	ejection fraction
EGD	eosophagogastro-duodenoscopy
EJ	elbow jerk
EKG, ECG	electrocardiogram
Eli	elimination
ENT	ear, nose, and throat department
ER	emergency room
ERCP	endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESR	erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD	end-stage renal disease
ESRF	end stage renal failure
EtOH	alcohol
ETT	endotracheal tube
Exam	examination
Ext	extremities

F à N	finger-to-nose-test
F/C	fever and chills
F/U	follow-up
FB	foreign body
FBC	full blood count
FDP	fibrin degradation products
FEV1	forced expiratory volume in 1s
FFA	free fatty acids
FFP	fresh frozen plasma
FHx	family history
FISH	fluorescent in situ hybridization
fl. oz.	fluid ounce (ca. 28 ml)
FMF	fetal movements felt
FMP	first menstrual period
FOB	faecal occult blood
Fx	fracture
GA	general anesthesia
GB	gall bladder
GFR	glomerular filtration rate
GI(T)	gastrointestinal tract
Glc	glucose
GN	glomerulonephritis
GP	general practitioner
GS	group + screen
GTT	glucose tolerance test
GU	gastric ulcer; genitourinary
Gyn	gynecology

H à S	heel-to-shin test
H & P	history and physical examination
h	hour
HA	headache
HAL	hyperalimentation
HBP	high blood pressure
Hct	hematocrit
HCTZ	hydrochlorothiazide
HCVD	hypertensive cardiovascular disease
hd	(hora decubitus) at bed time
HEENT	head, ears, eyes, nose, and throat (were normal)
Heme (n)	hematest negative (…stools)
HH	hiatal hernia
HNV	has not voided
HPI	history of present illness
ht	height
HTN	hypertension
Hx	history

I & O	intake and output
ICF	intracellular fluid
ICP	intracranial pressure
ICS	intercostal space
ICU	intensive care unit
ID	infectious disease
IDA	iron deficiency anemia
IDDM	insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Inj	injury
INR	international normalized ratio (prothrombin time expressed in relation to normal value)
int	internal
IOP	intraocular pressure
IUD	intrauterine device; intrauterine death
IUP	intrauterine pregnancy
iv	intravenous
IVC	inferior vena cava
IVF	intravenous fluid

JACCOL	jaundice, anemia, cynosis, clubbing, oedema, lymphadenopathy
JODM	juvenile onset diabetes
JP	jugular pulse
JVD	jugular venous distension
JVP	jugular venous pressure

K+	potassium
KCL	potassium chloride
KUB	kidney, ureter, bladder

L1	first lumbar vertebra
LA	lymphadenopathy; left atrium
Lab	laboratory
LAD	left axis deviation; left anterior descending
LAE	left atrial enlargement
LAH	left anterior hemiblock
Lap	laparotomy
LBBB	left bundle-branch block
LE	lower extremity
LFTs	liver function tests
Lig	ligament
LMD	local medical doctor
LMP	last menstrual period
LN	lymph node
LOC	loss of consciousness
LP	lumbar puncture
LPH	left posterior hemiblock
LV	left ventricle
LVF	left ventricular failure
Lytes	electrolytes

M & M	morbidity and mortality (conference)
M	murmur
MAE	moves all extremities
MAL	midaxillary line
MCH	mean corpuscular haemoglobin
MCL	midclavicular line
MHCU	mental health care unit
MI	myocardial infarction; mitral incompetence
MIC	minimum inhibitory concentration
MMR	measles, mumps, and rubella (vaccine)
MR	mitral regurgitation; mental retardation
MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
MS	multiple sclerosis; mitral stenosis; mental status
MSU	midstream urine (culture)
MVP	mitral valve prolaps

N/V/D/C	nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
NABS	normal active bowel sounds
NBN	newborn nursery
NGTF	nasogastric tube feeding
NK(D)A	no known (drug) allergies
NPO	(nihil per orem) empty stomach
NS	normal saline; not significant
NSAID	nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(s)
NSR	normal sinus rhythm
NSS	normal sterile saline
NTG	nitroglycerin
OBGYN	obstretics and gynecology
OCP	oral combined pill
od	(omni die) every day
OM	otitis media
OPD	outpatient department
OR	operating room
OT	occupational therapy

P & A	percussion and auscultation
PA	pulmonary artery; posteroanterior
PAP	pulmonary artery pressure
PAR	postanesthesia recovery
PC	(post cibum) after meals; presenting complaint; packed cells
PCN	penicillin
PD	peritoneal dialysis
PDA	patent ductus arteriosus
PDR	Physician’s Desk Reference (U.S.)
PE	pulmonary embolus; physical examination
PERRLA	pupils equal, round, reactice to light and accommodation
PET	positron emission tomography
PFTs	pulmonary function tests
PHx	past history
PI	present illness
PIH	pregnancy-induced hypertension
PM & R	physical medicine and rehabilitation (U.S.)
PMB	post-menopausal bleeding
PMC	pseudomembanous colitis
PMH	past medical history
PMI	point of maximal intensity; previous medical illnesses
PND	paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
po	(per orem) oral
PPD	packs per day; purified protein derivative (cutaneous test for tuberculosis); post partum
pr	(per rectum) rectal
PRBCs	packed red blood cells
Preme	premature infant
PRO-time	prothrombin time
PSH	psychosocial history; past surgical history
PT	physical therapy; prothrombin time
PTA	prior to admission
PTT	partial thromboplastin time
PUD	peptic ulcer disease
PVC	premature ventricular contraction
PVD	peripheral vascular disease
P-Y	pack years

Qd	(quotidian) daily
qds	4 times a day
qhs	every night
qod	every other day

R/g/m	rubs/gallops/murmurs
r/o	rule out
RA	rheumatoid arthritis
RAD	right axis deviation
Rad hys	radical hysterectomy
RBBB	right bundle-branch block
RBC	red blood cells/count
RF	rheumatic fever; renal failure
RFA	reason for admission
ROS	review of systems
RR	respiratory rate
RRR	regular rate and rhythm
RVH	right ventricular hypertrophy
Rx	take prescription; treatment

S/p	status post
S/S	signs and symptoms
S1,S2	first, second heart sound
SAH	subarachnoid hemorrhage
SB	small bowel
Sc	subcutaneously
SD	standard deviation
SE	saline enema
Sed	sedimentation (U.S.)
SHx	social history
SI	sacroiliac joint
sl	sublingually
SLE	systemic lupus erythematosus
SLR	straight leg raising (Lasègue)
SNS	sympathetic nervous system
SOB(OE)	short of breath (on exertion)
Sp. fl.	spinal fluid
Spec	specimen
SPEP	serum protein electrophoresis
Stat	(statim) immediately
STD	sexually transmitted disease
Supp	suppository
SVT	supraventricular tachycardia
Sx	symptoms
Sz	seizure

T & A	tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
T & C	type and cross match
Tab	tablet
tachy	tachycardia
TB	tuberculosis
TCN	tetracycline
TEE	transesophageal echocardiography
Temp	temperature
TFTs	thyroid function tests
TGA	transposition of the great arteries
THR	total hip replacement
TIA	transient ischemic attack
TM	tympanic membrane
TNG	nitroglycerin (U.S.)
TOP	termination of pregnancy
TP	total protein
TPN	total parenteral nutrition
TPR	temperature, pulse and respirations
TV	tidal volume
Tx	transplantation; therapy

UA	urinalysis
UE	upper extremity
URTI	upper respiratory tract infection
US	ultrasound
UTI	urinary tract infection

Vag	vaginal
VC	vital capacity
VD	venereal disease
vd	void
VF	ventricular fibrillation
VIP	voluntary interruption of pregnancy
VPB	ventricular premature beats
VS	vital signs
VSD	ventricular septal defect
VSS	vital signs stable

W/C	wheelchair
WB	whole blood
WCC	white cell count
WN	well nourished
WNL	within normal limits

YO	years old