APPENDIX M Medical Abbreviations and Symbols List

Welcome to the new abbreviation and symbol list. This is not a complete listing
of medical abbreviations or symbols, but contains commonly found abbreviations
used in Adult Care Home and In Home Service settings.
Abbreviation

Meaning

a
ac
abd
AD
ADL
ad lib
AKA
amb
ama, AMA
AMI
ANS
appt
ARDS
AROM
AS
AVR
AV
ASAP
ASHD

before
before meals
abdomen
Alzheimers disease; right ear
activities of daily living
as desired
above the knee amputation
ambulation (walk)
against medical advice, American Medical Assoc.
acute myocardial infarction
autonomic nervous system
appointment
adult respiratory distress
active range of motion
left ear; aortic stenosis
aortic valve replacement
atrioventricular (heart)
as soon as possible
arterisosclerotic heart disease

BID, bid
BKA
BM
BP
BPH
BR or br
BSC
BUN
Bx or BX

twice in the day

below knee amputation
bowel movement
blood pressure
benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate gland)
bath room
bed side commode, a portable potty chair
blood urea nitrogen (a lab test)
biopsy

c
c/o
C1 , C2
Ca, CA
caps
CAD
CAT or CT scan
cath

with
complaints of
refers to cervical vertebra #1, #2, a location in the spine
cancer
capsule with medication in it
coronary artery disease (heart disease)
computerized axial tomography ( CAT scan of the body)
catheter (a tube used to drain out body fluid)

NC DSS Adult and Family Services Section, November 1, 1998

Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 2

CABG
CBC
CC
CCU
CHD
CHF
CNS
cont.
COPD
CO2
CPR
CXR
CRF
CVA
CVD
CVS
cysto

coronary arterial bypass graft

complete blood count ( a blood test)
chief complaint; cardiac catheterization
coronary care unit
coronary heart disease
congestive heart failure
central nervous system
continued
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
carbon dioxide
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
chest xray
chronic renal failure (kidney failure)
cerebral vascular accident
cardiovascular disease
cardiovascular system
cystoscopy

/d
DC or D/C
dc
decub
DJD
DM
DOA
DOB
Dx
drsg
DSD
DT, DTs

per day
discharge
discontinue
decubitus ulcer (pressure sore, bedsore)
degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis)
diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
date of admission; dead on arrival
date of birth
diagnosis
dressing
dry sterile dressing
delirium tremens (the shakes from alcohol withdrawal)

ECG, EKG
EEG
e.g.
ENT
ERT
est, EST
ETOH

electrocardiogram
electroencephalogram (measurement of electric brain activity)
example
ears, nose, throat
estrogen replacement therapy
estimate; electroshock therapy
ethanol (alcohol)

FBS
F/U FU
FUO
Fx

fasting blood sugar (a lab test)

follow up
fever of unknown origin
fracture

G tube
GB
GBS

gastric tube (a tube in the stomach)

gall bladder
gall bladder series (a type of xray of the gut)

NC DSS Adult and Family Services Section, November 1, 1998

Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 3

GC
GERD
GU
gtts
gyn

gonorrhea
gastroesophageal reflux disease (a severe recurrent heartburn
disorder)
genitourinary
drops
gynecology

hgb hct
HHA
H2O
HS, hs
ht
Hx hx

hemoglobin, hematocrit, (both are blood cell measurements)

home health agency; or home health aide
water
hour of sleep, or at bedtime
height
history

I&O
ICF
ICU
ID

intake and output ( amount of fluid taken in and urine output)

intermediate care facility
intensive care unit
incision and drainage (when a scalpel is used to cut & drain a
boil)
insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
intramuscular
injection
intravenous
intravenous pyelogram ( a type of xray of the kidneys and
bladder)

IDDM
IM
inj
IV
IVP

L lft lt
L1, L2, L3
lab
liq
LLQ
LP
LPN
LRQ
LUQ
LV

left
refers to the lumbar section of the spine
laboratory
liquid
left lower quadrant
lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
licensed practical nurse
lower right quadrant
left upper quadrant
left ventricle

max
meds
MI
mod
MRI
MS
MVR

maximum
medications
myocardial infarction (heart attack)
moderate
magnetic resonance imaging
mitral stenosis; multiple sclerosis; musculoskeletal
mitral valve replacement

N/C
NG, NGT

no complaints
nasogastric (tube)

NC DSS Adult and Family Services Section, November 1, 1998

Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 4

NIDDM
noc
norm
NPO
NSAID
nsg

non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

night
normal
nothing by mouth
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
nursing

OA
OBS
occ
OD
OOB
OS
OU
orth ortho
os
OV
O2

osteoarthritis
organic brain syndrome
occasional
right eye; overdose
out of bed
left eye
both eyes
orthopedic
bone; opening; mouth
office visit
oxygen

p
P
PA
Pap
path
pc, p.c.
PDR
PE pe
prn, p.r.n.
PROM
PO po
pt
PVC
PVD
ph pH

after
pulse
physician assistant
pap smear ( a lab test)
pathology
after meals
physicians desk reference (a drug handbook)
physical exam
as needed or required
passive range of motion
my mouth
patient
premature ventricular contraction
peripheral vascular disease
hydrogen ion concentration ( a measure of the acidity of a
substance)

q
qam
qd
qod
qh
q2h, q3h, q4h
qhs
qid
quad

every
every am
every day
every other day
every hour
every 2 hours, every 3 hours, every 4 hours
every night (hour of sleep)
four times a day
quadriplegic ( arms and legs paralyzed)

R, rt

right

NC DSS Adult and Family Services Section, November 1, 1998

Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 5

RA
re:
rbc, RBC
reg
resp
RLQ
RN
R/O, r/o
ROM
RUQ
RV
Rx, RX

right atrium
about or regarding
red blood cell
regular
respiration or breaths
right lower quadrant
registered nurse
rule out
range of motion
right upper quadrant
right ventricle
treatment

s
SA
sl
sm
SOB
S/P, s/p

without
sinoatrial node
sublingual meaning under the tongue
small
short of breath
status post (status post an event , s/p MI, s/p CVA, s/p GI
bleed)
specimen
specific gravity (urine test)
signs and symptoms
staphylococcus
immediately
sexually transmitted disease
streptococcus
subcutaneous
symptom

spec
spec grav, sp gr
s & s, s/s
staph
stat
STD
strep
subq, subc
symp, Sx
T
T1, T2, T3
tab
TB
THR
TIA
tid
TKR
T/O, t/o
TPR
tsp
TUR, TURP
Tx

temperature
refers to the thoracic section of the spine
tablet, a tablet of medication, a round pill
tuberculosis
total hip replacement
transient ischemic attack
three times a day
total knee replacement
telephone order
temperature, pulse, respiration (the measurement of these 3
things)
teaspoon measurement
transurethral resection (prostate gland surgery in men)
treatment

U/A, u/a

urine analysis

NC DSS Adult and Family Services Section, November 1, 1998

Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 6

URI
UTI

upper respiratory infection

urinary tract infection

VD
VO, v/o
vs, VS, v/s
WBC, wbc
W/C
WNL
w/o
wt
w/u

venereal disease
verbal order
vital signs (temperature, pulse and respiration measurements)
white blood cell
wheel chair
within normal limits
without
weight
work up

x
y/o
yr

times
years old
year

Commonly Used Symbols

decrease

number
degree
less than
negative
nothing, not, none

increase

~
@
>
+
+, &

approximately
at
greater than
positive
and

equal to
male

not equal to
female

one of something

2, 3 of something

<

(dss.abrvlist/98)

NC DSS Adult and Family Services Section, November 1, 1998