Commonly used medical abbreviations

  • ABX - Antibiotics
    ABD - Abdomen
    ADL - Activities of Daily Living
    AF - Atrial Fibrillation
    AI - Aortic Insufficiency
    ALL - Allergies (also refers to Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia)
    AMI - Acute Myocardial Infarction; also Anterior Myocardial Infarction
    A&O - Alert And Oriented (often listed as A&O x3....oriented to person, place, time)
    AP - Anterior-Posterior (in reference to chest x-ray technique)
    A/P - Assessment and Plan
    APPY - Appendectomy
    AS - Aortic Stenosis; also Anklyosing Spondylitis
    AVR - Aortic Valve Replacment
    AVSS - Afebrile, Vital Signs Stable
     

  • B - Bilateral
    BIB - Brought In By
    BID - Twice a Day
    BL CX - Blood Culture
    BP - Blood Pressure
    BS - Bowel Sounds; also Breath Sounds and Blood Sugar
    BX - Biopsy
     
  • CABG - Coronary Artery By-Pass Graft
    CAD - Coronary Artery Disease
    CARDS - Cardiology
    CATH - Catheterization (usually refers to cardiac catheterization)
    C - With
    CC - Chief Complaint
    CCE - Clubbing, Cyanosis, Edema (with reference to extremity exam)
    CB - Cerebellar
    C/B - Complicated By
    CBC - Complete Blood Count (inludes hematocrit, white blood cells, platelets)
    Chemo - Chemotherapy
    CHF - Congestive Heart Failure
    Choly - Cholycystectomy
    CMP - Cardiomyopathy
    CN - Cranial Nerves
    CNIS - Carotid Non-Invasive Study
    COPD - Chronic Obtructive Pulmonary Disease
    CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
    CRI - Chronic Renal Insufficiency
    CT - Cat Scan; or Chest Tube
    CTA - Clear To Auscultation
    CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident
    CVP - Central Venous Pressure
    CX - Culture
    CXR - Chest X-Ray
    CVL - Central Venous Line
    C/W - Consistent With
     
  • D - Diarrhea
    DC - Discharge; also Discontinue
    DDx - Differential Diagnosis
    DIF - Differential (with reference to white blood cells)
    DM - Diabetes Mellitus
    DNI - Do Not Intubate
    DNR - Do Not Recusitate
    DTs - Delirium Tremens
    DTR - Deep Tendon Reflex
    DVT - Deep Venous Thrombosis
    DX - Diagnosis
    DDX - Differential Diagnosis
    D/O - Disorder
    DTR - Deep Tendon Reflexes
     
  • E/O - Evidence Of
    ECHO - Ultrasound Exam of the Heart
    ECG - Electrocardiogram (also known as EKG)
    EEG - Electroencephalogram
    EF - Ejection Fraction (in reference to ventricular function)
    EGD - Esophago-Gastro Duodenoscopy
    EKG - Electrocardiogram (also known as ECG)
    EMG - Electromyelogram
    EOMI - Extra Occular Muscles Intact
    EPS - Electro-Physiologic Study (used in diagnosis/treatment of cardiac dysrhythmias)
    ERCP - Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreotography
    ESRD - End Stage Renal Disease
    ETOH - Alcohol
    ETT - Exercise Tolerance Test
    EX LAP - Exploratory Laparotomy
    EXT - Extremities
     
  • FNA - Fine Needle Aspiration
    FX - Fracture
     
  • G - Guiac (followed by + or -)
    GC - Gonorrhea
    GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux
    GI - Gastroenterology
    GMR - Gallups, Murmurs, Rubs (with reference to cardiac exam)
    GS - Gram Stain
    GSW - Gun Shot Wound
    GU - Urology
     
  • HCT - Hematocrit
    HEENT - Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat
    HEME/ONC - Hematology/Oncology
    HI - Homicidal Ideation
    HL - Heparin Lock (an IV catheter site)
    HPI - History of Present Illness
    HSM - Holo-Systolic Murmur (with reference to cardiac exam; also hepato- splenomegaly)
    HTN - Hypertension
    HX - History
     
  • ID - Infectious Diseases
    IDDM - Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
    I&D - Incise and Drain (with reference to an absecess)
    IH - Inguinal Hernia (usually preceded by L or R)
    IMI - Inferior Myocardial Infarction
    IMP - Impression
    IV - Intravenous
    IVDU - Intravenous Drug Use
     
  • JVD - Jugular Venous Distention
    JVP - Jugular Venous Pressure
     
  • L - Left
    LAD - Left Anterior Descending (coronary artery)
    LAP - Laproscopic (may also refer to laporotomy)
    LBO - Large Bowel Obstruction
    LCx - Left Circumflex (coronary artery)
    LE - Lower Extremity (usually preceded by R or L)
    LENIs - Lower Extremity Non-Invasive Studies (ultrasound used to detect DVTs)
    LMD - Local Medical Doctor
    LOA - Lysis Of Adhesions
    LP - Lumbar Puncture
    LS - Lumbro-Sacral (usually inreference to that area of the spine)
    LV FXN - Left Ventricular Function
    LVH - Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
     
  • MEDS - Medicines
    MI - Myocardial Infarction
    MR - Mitral Regurgitation
    MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    MS - Mental Status; also Mitral Stenosis and Multiple Sclerosis
    MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
    MVR - Mitral Valve Replacement
     
  • N - Nausea
    NA - Not Available
    NAD - No Apparent Distress
    NABS - Normal Active Bowel Sounds
    NIDDM - Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
    NKDA - No Known Drug Allergies
    NPO - Nothing By Mouth
    NSR - Normal Sinus Rhythm
    NUCS - Nuclear Medicine
     
  • OB - Occult Blood (followed by '+' or '-')
    OOB - Out Of Bed
    O/P - Oropharynx
    O&P - Ovum and Parasistes (in reference to stool examination)
    ORIF - Open Reduction with Internal Fixation (refers to repairs of certain fractures)
    ORL - Oto-Rhino Laryngology (i.e. Ear, Nose and Throat)
    OSA - Obstructive Sleep Apnea
    OTC - Over The Counter
     
  • P - Pulse
    P - Pending
    P - After
    PA - Posterior-Anterior (refers to chest x-ray technique)
    PCP - Primary Care Physician (also, Pneumocystis Pneumonia)
    PCM - Pacemaker
    PE - Physical Exam; also Pulmonary Embolism
    PERRL - Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light
    PFTs - Pulmonary Function Tests
    PLT - Platelets
    PMD - Primary Medical Doctor
    PMH - Past Medical History
    PMI - Point of Maximum Impact
    PNA - Pneumonia
    PNBX - Prostate Needle Biopsy
    PRBCs - Packed Red Blood Cells
    PRN - Refers to treatments which patient can receive on an "as needed" basis
    PSH - Past Surgical History
    PTA - Prior To Admission (also Peritonsilar Abscess)
    PTCA - Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
    PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    PTX - Pneumothorax
    PUD - Peptic Ulcer Disease
    PVD - Peripheral Vascular Disease
    PVR - Post Void Residual
     
  • Q - Every (refers to a time interval...eg. if followed by 6, means "Every 6 Hours"; if followed by AM, D, W, or M =s "Every Morning Day, Week, or Month" respectively)
    QHS - Every Night
    QID - Four times per day
    QAC - Prior to all meals
     
  • R - Right
    R/B - Referred By
    RBC - Red Blood Cell
    RCA - Right Coronary Artery
    Rheum - Rheumatology
    R/O - Rule Out
    ROS - Review Of Systems
    RR - Respiratory Rate
    RRR - Regular Rate and Rhythm (with reference to cardiac exam)
    RX - Treatment
     
  • S - Without
    2/2 - Secondary To
    SBO - Small Bowel Obstruction
    SEM - Systolic Ejection Murmur (with reference to cardiac exam)
    SI - Suicidal Ideation
    S/P - Status Post
    STD - Sexually Transmitted Disease
    SX - Symptoms
     
  • TAH - Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
    THR - Total Hip Replacement
    TIA - Transient Ischemic Attack
    TID - Three times per day
    TKR - Total Knee Replacement
    TLC - Triple Lumen Catheter
    TM - Tympanic Membrane
    TOA - Tubo-Ovarian Abscess
    TR - Tricuspid Regurgitation
    TURP - Trans-Urethral Prostatectomy
    TX - Transfusion
     
  • UA - Urine Analysis (also refers to Uric Acid)
    UCX - Urine Culture
    UE - Upper Extremity (usually preceded by R or L)
    URI - Upper Respiratory tract Infection
    US - Ultrasound
    UTI - Urinary Tract Infection
     
  • V - Vomiting
    VAX - Vaccine
    VF - Ventricular Fibrillation
    VS - Vital Signs
    VSS - Vital Signs Stable
    VT - Ventricular Tachycardia
     
  • WBC - White Blood Cells
    WDWN - Well Developed, Well Nourished
     
  • X - Except
    XRT - Radiation Therapy
           

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