| Acronym |
Meaning |
| A/G |
Albumin/Globulin Ratio |
| A&O |
Alert & Oriented |
| AAA |
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm |
| AAD |
Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea |
| AAO |
Alert, Awake, And Oriented |
| AAS |
Acute Abdominal Series |
| ABD |
Abdomen |
| ABG |
Arterial Blood Gas |
| AC |
Before Eating |
| ACLS |
Advanced Cardiac Life Support |
| ACTH |
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone |
| ad lib |
As Much As Needed |
| ADH |
Anti-Diuretic Hormone |
| ADR |
Adverse Drug Reaction. | Acute Dystonic Reaction |
| AED |
Antiepileptic Drug |
| AF |
Atrial Fibrillation Or Afebrile |
| AFB |
Acid-Fast Bacilli |
| AFP |
Alpha-Fetoprotein |
| AI |
Aortic Insufficiency |
| AKA |
Above The Knee Amputation |
| ALD |
Alcoholic Liver Disease |
| ALL |
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia |
| Amb |
Ambulate |
| AML |
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia |
| ANA |
Antinuclear Antibody |
| ANS |
Autonomic Nervous System |
| AOB |
Alcohol On Breath |
| AODM |
Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus |
| AP |
Anteroposterior Or Abdominal – Perineal |
| ARDS |
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome |
| ARF |
Acute Renal Failure |
| AS |
Aortic Stenosis |
| ASAP |
As Soon As Possible |
| ASCVD |
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease |
| ASD |
Atrial Septal Defect |
| ASHD |
Atherosclerotic Heart Disease |
| AV |
Atrioventricular |
| A-V |
Arteriovenous |
| BBB |
Bundle Branch Block |
| BCAA |
Branched Chain Amino Acids |
| BE |
Barium Enema |
| BEE |
Basal Energy Expenditure |
| bid |
Twice A Day |
| BKA |
Below The Knee Amputation |
| BM |
Bone Marrow Or Bowel Movement |
| BMR |
Basal Metabolic Rate |
| BOM |
Bilateral Otitis Media |
| BP |
Blood Pressure |
| BPH |
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy |
| BPM |
Beats Per Minute |
| BRBPR |
Bright Red Blood Per Rectum |
| BRP |
Bathroom Privileges |
| BS |
Bowel Or Breath Sounds |
| BUN |
Blood Urea Nitrogen |
| BW |
Body Weight |
| BX |
Biopsy |
| c |
With |
| C/O |
Complaining Of |
| CA |
Cancer |
| Ca |
Calcium |
| CAA |
Crystalline Amino Acids |
| CABG |
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft |
| CAD |
Coronary Artery Disease |
| CAT |
Computerized Axial Tomography |
| CBC |
Complete Blood Count |
| CBG |
Capillary Blood Gas |
| CC |
Chief Complaint |
| CCU |
Clean Catch Urine Or Cardiac Care Unit |
| CCV |
Critical Closing Volume |
| CF |
Cystic Fibrosis |
| CGL |
Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia |
| CHF |
Congestive Heart Failure |
| CHO |
Carbohydrate |
| CI |
Cardiac Index |
| CML |
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia |
| CMV |
Cytomegalovirus |
| CN |
Cranial Nerves |
| CNS |
Central Nervous System |
| CO |
Cardiac Output |
| COLD |
Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease |
| COPD |
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
| CP |
Chest Pain Or Cerebral Palsy |
| CPAP |
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure |
| CPK |
Creatine Phosphokinase |
| CPR |
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
| CRCL |
Creatinine Clearance |
| CRF |
Chronic Renal Failure |
| CRP |
C-Reactive Protein |
| CSF |
Cerebrospinal Fluid |
| CT |
Computerized Tomography |
| CVA |
Cerebrovascular Accident Or Costovertebral Angle |
| CVAT |
Cva Tenderness |
| CVP |
Central Venous Pressure |
| CXR |
Chest X-Ray |
| D&C |
Dilation And Curettage |
| D5W |
5% Dextrose In Water |
| DAT |
Diet As Tolerated |
| DAW |
Dispense As Written |
| DC |
Discontinue Or Discharge |
| DDx |
Differential Diagnosis |
| DI |
Diabetes Insipidus |
| DIC |
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy |
| DIP |
Distal Interphalangeal Joint |
| DJD |
Degenerative Joint Disease |
| DKA |
Diabetic Ketoacidosis |
| dL |
Deciliter |
| DM |
Diabetes Mellitus |
| DNR |
Do Not Resuscitate |
| DOA |
Dead On Arrival |
| DOE |
Dyspnea On Exertion |
| DPL |
Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage |
| DPT |
Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus |
| DTR |
Deep Tendon Reflexes |
| DVT |
Deep Venous Thrombosis |
| DX |
Diagnosis |
| EAA |
Essential Amino Acids |
| EBL |
Estimated Blood Loss |
| ECG |
Electrocardiogram |
| ECT |
Electroconvulsive Therapy |
| EFAD |
Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency |
| EMG |
Electromyogram |
| EMV |
Eyes, Motor, Verbal Response (Glasgow Coma Scale) |
| ENT |
Ears, Nose, And Throat |
| EOM |
Extraocular Muscles |
| ERCP |
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio -Pancreatography |
| ESR |
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate |
| ET |
Endotracheal |
| ETOH |
Ethanol |
| ETT |
Endotracheal Tube |
| EUA |
Examination Under Anesthesia |
| FBS |
Fasting Blood Sugar |
| FEV |
Forced Expiratory Volume |
| FFP |
Fresh Frozen Plasma |
| FRC |
Functional Residual Capacity |
| FTT |
Failure To Thrive |
| FU |
Follow-Up |
| FUO |
Fever Of Unknown Origin |
| FVC |
Forced Vital Capacity |
| Fx |
Fracture |
| GC |
Gonorrhea |
| GETT |
General By Endotracheal Tube |
| GFR |
Glomerular Filtration Rate |
| GI |
Gastrointestinal |
| GTT |
Glucose Tolerance Test |
| GU |
Genitourinary |
| H/H |
Henderson- Hasselbach Equation Or Hemoglobin/ Hematocrit |
| HA |
Headache |
| HAA |
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen |
| HAV |
Hepatitis A Virus |
| HBP |
High Blood Pressure |
| HCG |
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin |
| HCT |
Hematocrit |
| HDL |
High Density Lipoprotein |
| HEENT |
Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat |
| Hgb |
Hemoglobin |
| HIV |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus |
| HJR |
Hepatojugular Reflex |
| HLA |
Histocompatibility Locus Antigen |
| HO |
History Of |
| HOB |
Head Of Bed |
| HPF |
High Power Field |
| HPI |
History Of Present Illness |
| HR |
Heart Rate |
| HS |
At Bedtime |
| HSM |
Hepatosplenomegaly |
| HSV |
Herpes Simplex Virus |
| HTN |
Hypertension |
| Hx |
History |
| I&O |
Intake And Output |
| ICS |
Intercostal Space |
| ICU |
Intensive Care Unit |
| IDDM |
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus |
| IG |
Immunoglobulin |
| IHSS |
Idiopathic Hypertropic Subaortic Stenosis |
| IM |
Intramuscular |
| IMV |
Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation |
| INF |
Intravenous Nutritional Fluid |
| IPPB |
Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing |
| IRBBB |
Incomplete Right Bundle Branch Block |
| IRDM |
Insulin Resistant Diabetes Mellitus |
| IT |
Interthecal |
| ITP |
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura |
| IV |
Intravenous |
| IVC |
Intravenous Cholangiogram | Inferior Vena Cava |
| IVP |
Intravenous Pyelogram |
| JODM |
Juvenile Onset Diabetes Mellitus |
| JVD |
Jugular Venous Distention |
| KOR |
Keep Open Rate |
| KUB |
Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder |
| KVO |
Keep Vein Open |
| L |
Left |
| LAD |
Left Axis Deviation Or Left Anterior Descending |
| LAE |
Left Atrial Enlargement |
| LAHB |
Left Anterior Hemiblock |
| LAP |
Left Atrial Pressure Or Leukocyte Alkaline Phosphatase |
| LBBB |
Left Bundle Branch Block |
| LDH |
Lactate Dehydrogenase |
| LE |
Lupus Erythematosus |
| LIH |
Left Inguinal Hernia |
| LLL |
Left Lower Lobe |
| LMP |
Last Menstrual Period |
| LNMP |
Last Normal Menstrual Period |
| LOC |
Loss Of Consciousness Or Level Of Consciousness |
| LP |
Lumbar Puncture |
| LPN |
Licensed Practical Nurse |
| LUL |
Left Upper Lobe |
| LUQ |
Left Upper Quadrant |
| LV |
Left Ventricle |
| LVEDP |
Left Ventricular End Diastolic Pressure |
| LVH |
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy |
| MAO |
Monoamine Oxidase |
| MAP |
Mean Arterial Pressure |
| MAST |
Medical Antishock Trousers |
| MBT |
Maternal Blood Type |
| MCH |
Mean Cell Hemoglobin |
| MCHC |
Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration |
| MCV |
Mean Cell Volume |
| MI |
Myocardial Infarction Or Mitral Insufficiency |
| mL |
Milliliter |
| MLE |
Midline Episiotomy |
| MMEF |
Maximal Mid Expiratory Flow |
| mmol |
Millimole |
| MMR |
Measles, Mumps, Rubella |
| MRI |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| MRSA |
Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus |
| MS |
Multiple Sclerosis Or Mitral Stenosis, Or Morphine Sulfate |
| MSSA |
Methicillin-Sensitive Staph Aureus |
| MVA |
Motor Vehicle Accident |
| MVI |
Multivitamin Injection |
| MVV |
Maximum Voluntary Ventilation |
| NAD |
No Active Disease |
| NAS |
No Added Salt |
| NCV |
Nerve Conduction Velocity |
| NED |
No Evidence Of Recurrent Disease |
| ng |
Nanogram |
| NG |
Nasogastric |
| NIDDM |
Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus |
| NKA |
No Known Allergies |
| NKDA |
No Known Drug Allergies |
| NMR |
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance |
| NPO |
Nothing By Mouth |
| NRM |
No Regular Medications |
| NSAID |
Non-Steroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs |
| NSR |
Normal Sinus Rhythm |
| NT |
Nasotracheal |
| OB |
Obstetrics |
| OCG |
Oral Cholecystogram |
| OD |
Overdose Or Right Eye |
| OM |
Otitis Media |
| OOB |
Out Of Bed |
| OPV |
Oral Polio Vaccine |
| OR |
Operating Room |
| OS |
Left Eye |
| OU |
Both Eyes |
| P |
Para |
| P&PD |
Percussion And Postural Drainage |
| PA |
Posteroanterior |
| PAC |
Premature Atrial Contraction |
| PAO2 |
Alveolar Oxygen |
| PaO2 |
Peripheral Arterial Oxygen Content |
| PAP |
Pulmonary Artery Pressure |
| PAT |
Paroxysymal Atrial Tachycardia |
| PC |
After Eating |
| PCWP |
Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure |
| PDA |
Patent Ductus Arteriosus |
| PDR |
Physicians Desk Reference |
| PE |
Pulmonary Embolus, Or Physical Exam Or Pleural Effusion |
| PEEP |
Positive End Expiratory Pressure |
| PFT |
Pulmonary Function Tests |
| pg |
Picogram |
| PI |
Pulmonic Insufficiency Disease |
| PKU |
Phenylketonuria |
| PMH |
Previous Medical History |
| PMI |
Point Of Maximal Impulse |
| PMN |
Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte (Neutrophil) |
| PND |
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea |
| PO |
By Mouth |
| POD |
Post-Op Day |
| PP |
Postprandial Or Pulsus Paradoxus |
| PPD |
Purified Protein Derivative |
| PR |
By Rectum |
| PRBC |
Packed Red Blood Cells |
| PRN |
As Needed |
| PS |
Pulmonic Stenosis |
| PT |
Prothrombin Time, Or Physical Therapy |
| Pt |
Patient |
| PTCA |
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty |
| PTH |
Parathyroid Hormone |
| PTHC |
Percutanous Transhepatic Cholangiogram |
| PTT |
Partial Thromboplastin Time |
| PUD |
Peptic Ulcer Disease |
| PVC |
Premature Ventricular Contraction |
| PVD |
Peripheral Vascular Disease |
| q |
Every (E.G. Q6H = Every 6 Hours) |
| q4h, q6h…. |
Every 4 Hours, Every 6 Hours Etc. |
| qd |
Every Day |
| qh |
Every Hour |
| qid |
Four Times A Day |
| QNS |
Quantity Not Sufficient |
| qod |
Every Other Day |
| Qs/Qt |
Shunt Fraction |
| Qt |
Total Cardiac Output |
| R |
Right |
| R/O |
Rule Out |
| RA |
Rheumatoid Arthritis Or Right Atrium |
| RAD |
Right Atrial Axis Deviation |
| RAE |
Right Atrial Enlargement |
| RAP |
Right Atrial Pressure |
| RBBB |
Right Bundle Branch Block |
| RBC |
Red Blood Cell |
| RBP |
Retinol-Binding Protein |
| RDA |
Recommended Daily Allowance |
| RDW |
Red Cell Distribution Width |
| RIA |
Radioimmunoassay |
| RIH |
Right Inguinal Hernia |
| RLL |
Right Lower Lobe |
| RLQ |
Right Lower Quadrant |
| RML |
Right Middle Lobe |
| RNA |
Ribonucleic Acid |
| ROM |
Range Of Motion |
| ROS |
Review Of Systems |
| RPG |
Retrograde Pyelogram |
| RRR |
Regular Rate And Rhythm |
| RT |
Respiratory Or Radiation Therapy |
| RTA |
Renal Tubular Acidosis |
| RTC |
Return To Clinic |
| RU |
Resin Uptake |
| RUG |
Retrograde Urethogram |
| RUL |
Right Upper Lobe |
| RUQ |
Right Upper Quadrant |
| RV |
Residual Volume |
| RVH |
Right Ventricular Hyperthrophy |
| Rx |
Treatment |
| s |
Without | Ss = One-Half |
| S&E |
Sugar And Acetone |
| SA |
Sinoatrial |
| SAA |
Synthetic Amino Acid |
| SBE |
Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis |
| SBFT |
Small Bowel Follow Through |
| SBS |
Short Bowel Syndrome |
| SCr |
Serum Creatinine |
| SEM |
Systolic Ejection Murmur |
| SG |
Swan-Ganz |
| SGA |
Small For Gestational Age |
| SGGT |
Serum Gamma- Glutamyl Transpeptidase |
| SGOT |
Serum Glutamic- Oxaloacetic Transaminase |
| SGPT |
Serum Glutamic- Pyruvic Transaminase |
| SIADH |
Syndrome Of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone |
| Sig |
Write On Label |
| SIMV |
Synchronous Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation |
| Sl |
Sublingual |
| SLE |
Systemic Lupus Erythematous |
| SMO |
Slips Made Out |
| SOAP |
Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan |
| SOB |
Shortness Of Breath |
| SQ |
Subcutaneous |
| STAT |
Immediately |
| SVD |
Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery |
| Sx |
Symptoms |
| T&C |
Type And Cross |
| T&H |
Type And Hold |
| TAH |
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy |
| TB |
Tuberculosis |
| TBG |
Total Binding Globulin |
| Td |
Tetanus-Diphtheria Toxoid |
| TIA |
Transient Ischemic Attack |
| TIBC |
Total Iron Binding Capacity |
| Tid |
Three Times A Day |
| TIG |
Tetanus Immune Globulin |
| TKO |
To Keep Open |
| TLC |
Total Lung Capacity |
| TMJ |
Temporo Mandibular Joint |
| TNTC |
Too Numerous To Count |
| TO |
Telephone Order |
| TOPV |
Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine |
| TPN |
Total Parenteral Nutrition |
| TSH |
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
| TT |
Thrombin Time |
| TTP |
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura |
| TU |
Tuberculin Units |
| TUR |
Transurethral Resection |
| TURBT |
Tur Bladder Tumors |
| TURP |
Transurethral Resection Of Prostate |
| TV |
Tidal Volume |
| TVH |
Total Vaginal Hysterectomy |
| tw |
Twice A Week |
| Tx |
Treatment, Transplant |
| UA |
Urinalysis |
| UAC |
Uric Acid | Umbilical Artery Catheter |
| UAO |
Upper Airway Obstruction |
| UBD |
Universal Blood Donor |
| UC |
Ulcerative Colitis | Umbilical Cord |
| ud |
As Directed |
| UFH |
Unfractionated Heparin |
| UGI |
Upper Gastrointestinal |
| URI |
Upper Respiratory Infection |
| URQ |
Upper Right Quadrant |
| US |
Ultrasound |
| UTI |
Urinary Tract Infection |
| UUN |
Urinary Urea Nitrogen |
| UVA |
Ultraviolet A Light |
| V/Q |
Ventilation – Perfusion |
| VAD |
Venous Access Device |
| VC |
Vital Capacity |
| VCT |
Venous Clotting Time |
| VCUG |
Voiding Cysourethrogram |
| VDRL |
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (Test For Syphilis) |
| VMA |
Vanillymadelic Acid |
| VO |
Verbal Or Voice Order |
| VRE |
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus |
| VSS |
Vital Signs Stable |
| VT |
Ventricular Tachycardia |
| VV |
Varicose Veins |
| VW |
Vessel Wall |
| VWD |
Von Willebrand’S Disease |
| VZV |
Varicella Zoster Virus |
| WB |
Whole Blood |
| WBC |
White Blood Cell Or Count |
| WBR |
Whole Body Radiation |
| WD |
Well Developed |
| WF |
White Female |
| WIA |
Wounded In Action |
| WID |
Widow, Widower |
| WM |
White Male |
| WN |
Well Nourished |
| WNL |
Within Normal Limits |
| WO |
Written Order | Weeks Old | Wide Open. |
| WOP |
Without Pain |
| WPW |
Wolff-Parkinson-White |
| W-T-D |
Wet To Dry |
| X2d |
Times 2 Days. |
| XMM |
Xeromammography |
| XOM |
Extraocular Movements |
| XS |
Excessive |
| XULN |
Times Upper Limit Of Normal |
| YF |
Yellow Fever |
| YLC |
Youngest Living Child |
| yo |
Years Old |
| YOB |
Year Of Birth |
| yr |
Year |
| ytd |
Year To Date |
| ZDV |
Zidovudine |
| ZE |
Zollinger-Ellison |
| Zn |
Zinc |
| ZnO |
Zinc Oxide |
| ZSB |
Zero Stools Since Birth |
