Common Medical Abbreviations
SECTION III
COMMON MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS
III.1
COMMON MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS
To discuss a therapeutic regimen with a physician you must speak his language. The terminology that will confront you in the patient care areas is different from that to which you have previously been exposed. A typical conversation you might hear at the patient's bedside would go something like, " I hear an S-2 and S-4 with no split sounds or opening snap. Since there has been no history of dyspnea and the ASO was negative, I suspect an ASD or VSD, but we will not know for sure until after the results of the cath." An admission order written by the physician might read "up ad lib, ADA diet (2000 cal), S&A, MOM 30 ml, hs, pm. Lab tests as follows: CBC, Crit., Amylase, CPK, PBI, Blood Gases, BUN, Creatinine, LDH, SGOT, SGPT and Lytes." The language of the physician is oriented toward disease, diagnostic tests and treatment.
The most commonly encountered abbreviations and terminology will be helpful to you as a reference source. If you are not familiar with a term that is used, you should consult a medical dictionary or ask the physician.
Abbreviations
AbbreviationExplanation
ABEAcute bacterial endocarditis
ABSAdmitting blood sugar
ADAAmerican Dietetic Association
AFAcid Fast
ad libAs desired
A/GAlbumin-globulin ratio
AHCAAgency for Healthcare Administration
AMAAgainst Medical Advice
AKAbove knee amputation
A.L.T.Alanine Aminotransferase (formerly called SGPT)
AmbAmbulant
AntAnterior
ANAAntinuclear antibody
ASCVDarteriosclerotic vascular disease (arteriosclerosis)
ASDAtrial septum defect
ASHDArteriosclerotic heart disease
ASOAntistreptolysin 0
A.S.T.Aspartate Aminotransferase (formerly SCOT)
AVAtrioventricular
BBBBundle branch block or blood brain barrier
BBTBasal body temperature
BEBarium enema
BJBone and joint
BKABelow knee amputation
BMBowel movement
BMRBasal Metabolic rate
BPBlood pressure
BRPBathroom privileges
BSBreath sounds or bowel sounds
BSABody surface area
BSPBromsulphalein
BUNBlood urea nitrogen
BWBody weight
BxBiopsy
CaCarcinoma
CalCalorie
C and SCulture and sensitivity
CBCComplete blood count
CCChief complaint
Ceph FlocCephalin Flocculation
CFTComplement fixation test
CHFCongestive heart failure
CHOCarbohydrate
chrChronic
c/oComplains of
CNSCentral nervous system
COLDChronic obstructive lung disease
CONGCongenital
COPDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPKCreatinine phosphokinase
CSFCerebrospinal fluid
CSTConvulsive shock therapy
CTCirculation time
CVCardiovascular
CVACerebrovascular accident
CVDCardiovascular disease
CVPCentral venous pressure
D/CDiscontinue
D and CDilation and curettage
DermDermatology
diffDifferential blood count
DMDiabetes mellitus
DOADead on arrival
DOEDyspnea on exertion
DTRDeep tendon reflex
DQADivision of Quality Assurance
DXDiagnosis
ECGElectrocardiogram
ECTElectroconvulsive therapy
EEGElectroencephalogram
EENTEye, ear, nose and throat
EKGElectrocardiogram
egFor example
EMGElectromyography
EPSExtra pyramidal syndrome
EREmergency room
ESRErythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESTElectroshock therapy
ExtExtremities
FBSFasting blood sugar
F and RForce and rhythm of pulse
FHFamily history
FldFluid
FRCFunctional residual capacity
FTAFluorescent treponemal antibody
FUOFever of undetermined origin
FxFracture
GBGallbladder
GcGonorrhea
GFRGlomerular filtration rate
GIGastrointestinal
G-6-PDGlucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase
GSWGun shot wound
GTTGlucose tolerance test
GUGenitourinary
GYNGynecology
HHypodermic
hHour
HbHemoglobin
HCTHematocrit
HCVDHypertensive cardiovascular disease
HgbHemoglobin
H and PHistory and physical
HPIHistory of present illness
HTHeight
HTVDHypertensive vascular disease
HxHistory
ICSIntercostal space
ICUIntensive care unit
I and DIncision and drainage
I and 0Input and output
IMIntramuscular
ImpImpression
infInferior
intInterval
Int MedInternal medicine
IOPIntraocular pressure
IPIntraperitoneal
IPPBIntermittent positive pressure breathing
IVIntravenous
IVPIntravenous pyelogram
IVTIntravenous transfusion
JVDJugular Venous distention
KPotassium
KgKilogram
KOKeep open
KUBKidney, ureter, bladder
KVOKeep vein open
latLateral
L and ALight and accommodation (of pupils)
LBBBLeft bundle branch block
LCMLeft costal margin
LBCDLeft border cardiac dullness
LDHLactic acid dehydrogenase
LELupus erythematosus
LLQLeft lower quadrant
LMDLocal medical doctor
LMPLast menstrual period
LOALeave of absence
LUQLeft upper quadrant
LPLumbar puncture
LVHLeft ventricular hypertrophy
L and WLiving and well
MCHMean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCVMean corpuscular volume
MedMedicine
MHMenstrual history
MIMyocardial infarction
rnmMillimeter
MOMMilk of magnesia
MRXIMay repeat times one
MSMitral stenosis or multiple schlerosis or morphine sulfate
MSEMental status examination
MMSEMini Mental Status Exam
NNormal
NBNewborn
NegNegative
NMNeuromusclar
NGNasogastric tube
NOSNot Otherwise Specified (used as part of a diagnosis)
NPNNonprotein nitrogen
NPONothing by mouth
N/SNormal saline
NSRNormal sinus rhythm
NTPNormal temperature and pressure
NTGNitroglyercin
NYDNot yet diagnosed
OBObstetrics
OB-GYNObstetrics and gynecology
OOBOut of bed
OROperating room
OTOccupational therapy
PPulse
pAfter
PACPremature atrial contraction
P and APercussion and auscultation
Para 1Having bom one child
PATParoxysmal atrial tachycardia
PBIProtein - bound iodine
PCVPacked Cell Volume
PCO2Carbon dioxide partial pressure
PEPhysical examination
PMPost mortem
PHCPost hospital care
PMHPast medical hospital
PIPresent illness
PIDPelvic inflammatory disease
POBy mouth
Post OpPost operative
PPPost partum
PPDPurified protein derivative of tuberculin
PPTPartial prothrombin time
PRAPlasma renin activity
Pre Opbefore surgery
P and RPulse and respiration
PRNWhen necessary
ProgPrognosis
PsPosterior
PSPPhenosulfonphthalein
PtPatient
PTPhysical therapy
PVCPremature ventricular contraction
qdEvery day
qhEvery hour
qodEvery other day
RRight
RAAgglutinins or right atrium
RBBBRight bundle branch block
RBCRed blood cell
RHDRheumatic heart disease
RLQRight lower quadrant
R/ORule out
ROMRange of motion exercise
RPFRenal plasma flow
RRRecovery room
ROSReview of systems
RVRight ventricle
RVHRight ventricular hypertrophy
RUQRight upper quadrant
RxTreatment
sWithout
S-ASino-atrial
SBESubacute bacterial endocarditis
SCSubcutaneous
SGOTSerum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase
SGPTSerum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SHSocial history
SigLet it be labeled
SOBShortness of breath
s/pStatus Post
Sp grSpecific gravity
SRSedimentation rate
STATAt once
STSSerologic test for syphilis
supSuperior
SxSymptoms
TTemperature
T and Atonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
TBTuberculosis
TBWTotal body water
TCA'sTricyclic antidepressants
TIBCTotal iron binding capacity
TPTotal protein
TPNTotal parenteral nutrition
TPRTemperature, pulse and respiration
TURTransurethral resection
TVTrial visit
TxTreatment
URIUpper respiratory infection
UTIUrinary tract infection
VCVital capacity or vena cava
VDVenereal disease
VDHValvular disease of heart
VDRLVenereal disease research laboratory
VFVisual field
visNamely
VMAVanilmandelic acid
VPVenous pressure
VSVital signs
VSDVentricular septal defect
WBCWhite blood cells
WNLWithin normal limits
WtWeight
III.1