Common Medical Abbreviations and Definitions
a
before
@
at
A:
assessment
AA
Alcholics Anoymous
AAROM
active assistive range of motion
AA
of each
ab
abortion
abd
abdomen
abd
abduction
ABG
arterial blood gases
ac
before meals
AC joint
acromioclavicular joint
ACTH
adrenocorticotrophic hormone
add
adduction
ADH
antidiuretic hormone
ADL
activities of daily living
ad lib
as desired
adm
admission
ADT
admission, discharge, transfer
AE
above elbow
AFB
acid-fast bacilli
AFB
acid-fast bacilli
AFO
ankle foot orthosis
A/G
albumin globulin ration
AIDS
autoimmune deficiency syndrome
AIIS
anterior inferior iliac spine
AJ
ankle jerk
AK
above knee
alb
albumin
alka phos
alkaline phosphatase
AM
between midnight-noon
AMA
against medical advice
a.m.
morning
amb
ambulate
amp
ampule
amt
amount
ANS
autonomic nervous system
ant
anterior
AP
anteroposterior
A&P
anscultation and percussion
aq
aqueous
AROM
active range of motion
ARM
artificial rupture of membranes
ASA
aspirin
ASAP
as soon as possible
ASHD
arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASIS
anterior superior iliac spine
assist.
assistance
as tol
as tolerated
AV
arteriovenous
ax
axillary
BE
barium enema
BE
below elbow
Bib.
Drink
bihor
during two hours
bid
twice a day
bilat.
bilateral
BK
below knee
BM
bowel movement
B.M.R.
basal metabolic rate
BP
blood pressure
BR
bedrest
BRP
bathroom privileges
BS
blood sugar
B/S
bedside
bpm
beats per minute
BRP
bathroom privileges
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
Bx
biopsy
b.v.
vapor bath
c
with
C
Celsius'
C
Centigrade
C&S
culture and sensitivity
C1-C7
cervical vertebrae
Ca
calcium
cal
calorie
cap
capsule
caps.
capsule
CAPD
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
cath
catheterization
CBC
complete blood count
CBI
closed brain injury
CBR
complete bed rest
CBS
chronic brain syndrome
CC
chief complaint
CC
colony count
CCU
coronary care unit
CEA
carcinoma embryonic antigen
CHO
carbohydrate
chemo
chemotheraphy
chol
cholesterol
CIP
computerized impedance plethysmography
circ
circumcision
cl
clinic
Cl
chloride
cl liq
clear liquid
cm
centimeter
CMV
cytomegalovirus
CNA
certified nursing assistant
CNS
central nervous system
cr
tomorrow
c/o
complains of
CO
carbon monoxide
Co.
compound
COLD
chronic obstructive lung disease
comp
compound
cond
condition
cont.
continue
COTA
certified occupational therapy assistant
CP
cerebral palsy
CPK
ceratine phosphokinase
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRNA
certified registered nuse anesthetist
C&S
culture and sensitivity
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CT
computer tomography
Cu
copper
CV
cardiovascular
CVP
central venous pressure
cx
cervix
CXR
chest x-ray
CWI
crutch walking instructions
Cysto
cystoscopic examination
d.
a day
D.
give
DAT
diet as tolerated
Dieb.second
every second day
DC
discontinued
DIP
distal interphalangeal joint
D&C
dilatation and curettage
del
delivery
dept.
department
diff
differential
dim
one-half
disch
discharge
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
DO
doctor of osteopathy
DOA
dead on arrival
DOB
date of birth
dr
dram
DRG
diagnosis-related groupings
D/S
dextrose in saline
DTR
deep tendon reflex
DW
distilled water
Dx
diagnosis
E
enema
EBL
estimated blood loss
ECG
electrocardiogram
ECF
extended care facility
EchoEG
echoencephalography
ECT
electroconvulsive therapy
ED
emergency department
EDD
estimated date of delivery
EEG
electronencephalogram
EENT
eye, ear, nose and throat
EGD
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EKG
electrocardiogram
elix
elixir
EMG
electromyogram
e.m.p.
in the manner prescribed
ENG
electronystagmography
ENT
ear, nose and throat
EP studies
evoked potential studies
ER
emergency room
ERCP
endoscopic retrograde-cholangiopancreatography
ERT
ERT
estrogen
estrogen replacement therapy
ESR
erthrocye sedimentation rate
ESWL
extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
etiol
etiology
eval
evaluation
exam
examination
ext
extract
ext
external
F
Fahrenheit
F
fair (muscular strength)
FBS
fasting blood sugar
Fe
iron
feb
fever
FH
family history
FHT
fetal heart tones
flex
flexion
flu
influenza
FSH
follicle-stimulating hormone
ft.
foot, feet (measurement)
FTT
failure to thrive
FUO
fever of unknown origin
FWB
full weight bearing
Fx
fracture
g
gram
G
good (muscular strength)
GB series
gall bladder series
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GI
gastrointestinal
gm
gram
gtt
drop
Grad.
gradually
GTT
glucose tolerance test
gtt.
drops
GU
genitourinary
Gyn
gynecology
h
hour
H
hypodermic
HD
hemodialysis
H&H
hemoglobin and hematocrit
HCI
hydrochloric acid
HVCD
hypertensive cardiovascular disease
Hct
hematocrit
HEENT
head, ear, eyes, nose throat
HEP
home exercise program
Hg
mercury
Hgb
hemoglobin
HI
head injury
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
HOB
head of bed
H&H
hematocrit and hemoglobin
H&P
history and physical
HNP
herniated nucleus pulposus
HOB
head of bed
HR
heart rate
HRT
hormone replacement therapy
hr
hour
Ht
hematocrit
ht
height
Htn
hypertension
Hx
history
hypo
hypodermic
ICU
intensive care unit
IM
intramuscular
imp.
impression
in.
inches
indep
independent
inf
inferior
incid
cut
in d.
in a day
inj
an injection
int. cib.
Between meals
int.noct.
during the night
I&O
intake and output
IPG
impendance plethysmography
IPPB
intermittent positive pressure breathing
irrig
irrigation
isol
isolation
IUD
intrauterine device
IV
intravenous
IVC
intravenous cholangiogram
IVP
intravenous pyelogram
K
potassium
kcal
kilocalories
KCL
potassium chloride
kg
kilogram
KJ
knee jerk
KO
keep open
KUB
kidney, ureter, bladder
KVO
keep vein open
L
liter
(L)
left
L1-L5
lumbar vertebrae
lab
laboratory
lac
laceration
lat
lateral
Lat.dol.
to the painful side
lb.
pound
LBP
low back pain
L&D
labor and delivery
LDH
lactic dehydrogenase
LE
lower extremity
lg
large
LLL
left lower lobe
LLQ
left lower quadrant
LMP
last menstrual period
LOP
loss of consciousness
LP
lumbar puncture
LPN
licensed practcal nurse
LR
lactated ringer's
lt
left
LUL
left upper lobe
LUQ
left upper quadrant
M.
mix
m
meter
man.
in the morning
max
maximal
mcg
microgram
MD
medical doctor
Meds.
medications
mets
metastasis
mEq
milliequivalent
MFT
muscle function test
MCH
mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCV
mean corpuscular volume
mEq
milliequivalent
mg
milligram
min
minimal
min.
minutes
mL
milliliter
mm
millimeter
MMT
manual muscle test
mo.
month
mod
moderate
MOM
milk of magnesia
MCP, MP
metacarpophalangeal
MR
may repeat
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MS
multiple sclerosis
N
normal (muscle strength)
Na
sodium
NA
nursing assistant
NaCI
sodium chloride
NAS
no added salt
NB
newborn
NDT
neurodevelopmental treatment
neg
negative
neuro
neurology
NG
nasogastric
N.H.
nursing home
NICU
neonatal or neurological intensive care unit
noc
night
noct
night
NPO
nothing by mouth
NS
normal saline
NSR
normal sinus rhythm
NWB
non-weight bearing
N&V
nausea and vomiting
NVS
neuro vital signs
O:
objective
02
oxygen
OB
obstetrics
OBS
organic brain syndrome
OD
overdose
oint
ointment
OOB
out of bed
OP
outpatient
Ophth
ophthalmic
OR
operating room
ORIF
open reduction internal fixation
Ortho
orthopedics
OS
left eye
OT
occupational therapy/therapist
OTR
occupational therapist (official signature)
oto
otology
oz
ounce
p
after
P
phosphorus
P
pulse
P
poor (muscle strength)
P:
plan
Part.aeq.
equal parts
PA
physician's assisstant/postoanterior
para
paraplegia
pc
after meals
PCU
progressive care unit
PCV
packed cell volume
PDR
physician's desk reference
Peds
pediatrics
PEEP
positive end expiratory pressure
PEG
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
per
by
PERRLA
pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
PET scan
positron emission tomography scan
PFT
pulmonary function tests
PICU
pediatric intensive care unit
PKU
phenylketonuria
PMS
premenstrual syndrome
PM
between noon and midnight
PNF
proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
PNI
peripheral nerve injury
PNS
peripheral nervous system
po
orally or postoperative or phone order
POMR
problem oriented medical record
pos.
positive
poss
possible
post
posterior
post-op
postoperatively
PP
postpartum or postprandial (after meals)
PPD
purified protein derivative
pr
per rectum
PRE
progressive resistive exercise
PRBC
packed red blood cells
PRN
as needed
PROM
passive range of motion
PSA
prostatic specific antigen
PSIS
posterior superior iliac spine
PT
prothrombin time or physical therapy
pt
patient or print
PTA
physical therapy assistant
PTA
prior to admission
PTB
patellar tendon bearing
PTT
partial thromboplastin time
PVD
peripheral vascular disease
PWB
partial weight bearing
Px
prognosis
q
every
qd
every day
q_h
every # hour (e.g. q4h)
qid
four times per day
qoh
every other hour
qt
quart
also
qs
sufficient quantity
R
rectal
right
captial R is a circle
RAIU
radioactive iodine uptake
RBC
blood cell count
R.D.
registered dietician
re:
regarding
reg
regular
rehab
rehabilitation
REM
rapid eye movement
reps
repetitions
resp
respirations
RLL
right lower lobe
RLQ
right lower quadrant
RN
registered nurse
R/O
rule out
ROM
range of motion
ROS
review of systems
RR
recovery room
RROM
resistive range of motion
rt
right or routine
RT
respiratory therapist
RUL
right upper lobe
Rx
prescription, treatment
t.
three times
T
trace (muscle strength)
T1-T12
thoracic vertebrae
T4
thyroxine
tab
tablet
TAT
tetanus antitoxin
TB
tuberculosis
TCDB
turn, cough, deep breath
TCT
thrombin clotting time
temp
temperature
TENS
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator
TIA
transient ischemic attack
tid
three times a day
tinct
tincture
TKR
total knee replacement
TLC
tender loving care
TNR
total neck reflex
TO
telephone order
TPN
total parenteral nutrition
tr
tincture
trach
tracheostomy
TSH
thyroid-stimulating hormone
TE
tap water enema
TUR
transurethral resection
Tx
traction
U
unit
UA
urine analysis
UE
upper extremity
UGI
upper gastrointestinal
UMN
upper motor neuron
Ung
ointment
UPPP
uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
URI
upper respiratory infection
US
ultrasound
Ut.dict.
as directed
UV
ultraviolet
vag
vaginal
VCUG
voiding cystourethrogram
VDRL
Veneral Disease Research Laboratory
vic.
Times
v.o.
verbal order
vol.
volume
VPS
ventilation/perfusion scanning
VS
vital signs
WA
while awake
WBC
white blood cell
W/C
wheel chair
wk.
Week
WNL
within normal limits
wt.
weight
XRT
radiotherapy, radiation therapy
y/o
years old
yd.
yard
yr.
year