A

A&P asuscultation and percussion

A&W alive and well
ABG arterial blood gases
AB abortion
Ab antibody
Abd abdomen
ac before meals
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ad lib as desire
ADL activities of daily living
AFB acid-fast bacilli
AFP alpha-fetoprotein
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AKA above knee amputation
ALT alanine transaminase
AMA against medical advice
AMI acute myocardial infarction
amt amount
AP apical pulse
ARF acute renal failure
ASD atrial septal defect
AU both ears

B
BBS bilateral breath sounds
BE barium enema
BG blood glucose
BI brain injury
BID twice a day
bilat bilateral
B/K below knee
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BS bowel sounds
BSC bedside commode
BSA body surface area
BSE breast self examination
BT bowel tones
BUN blood urea nitrogen
C
C&S culture and sensitivity
Ca calcium
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CAD coronary artery disease
CAPD continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CAT computerized tomography scan
CBC complete blood count
CBD common bile duct
CBE clinical breast examination
CBG capillary blood glucose
CBI continuous bladder irrigation
CBS capillary blood sugar
CC chief complaint
CEA cultured epithelial autograft
CL cleft lip
CO cardiac output
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP chest pain, cleft palate
CPAP continuous positive airway pressure
CPD cephalo-pelvic disproportion
CRF chronic renal failure
CRT capillary refill time
CSF cerebrospinal fluid, colony stimulating factors
CT chest tube, computed tomography
CVA cerebral vascular accident, costovertebral angle
CVP central venous pressure
Cx cervix
CXR chest x-ray
D
DAT diet as tolerated
DC (dc) discontinue
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR do not resuscitate
DTR deep tendon reflex
DVT deep vein thrombosis
Dx diagnosis
E
EBV Epstein-Barr Virus
EENT eye, ear, nose and throat
EMG electromyogram
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESRD end stage renal disease
ET endotracheal tube
F
F & R force and rhythm
FA fatty acid
FBS fasting blood sugar
FDA Food & Drug Administration
Fx fracture
FUO fever of unknown origin
FVD fluid volume deficit
G
GB gallbladder
GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease
GFR glomerular filtration rate
GI gastrointestinal
GU genitourinary

H
HA headache
Hb hemoglobin
HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
HCO3 bicarbonate
HCT hematocrit
HD hemodialysis
HDL high density lipoprotein
HEENT head, eye, ear, nose and throat
Hgb hemoglobin
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HRT hormone replacement therapy
HS bedtime
Hx history
I

IBD inflammatory bowel disease

IBS irritable bowel syndrome
IBW ideal body weight
ICP intracranial pressure
ICS intercostal space
ICU intensive care unit
IDDM insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IHD ischemic heart disease
IM intramuscular
IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing
IV intravenous
IVF in vitro fertilization
IVP intravenous pyelography
J

JVP jugular venous pressure

K
K potassium
KCl potassium chloride
KI potassium iodide
KUB kidney, ureter, bladder
KVO keep vein open
L

LB large bowel
LDL low density lipoprotein
LE lupus erythematosus
LFTs liver function tests
LIJ left internal jugular
LLQ left lower quadrant
LMP last menstrual period
LP lumbar puncture
LSC left subclavian
LUQ left upper quadrant
M
MAP mean arterial pressure
MI myocardial infarction
MLC midline catheter
MM mucous membrane
MOM Milk of Magnesia
MRDD mental retarded/developmentally disabled
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MRM modified radical mastectomy
MS multiple sclerosis, morphine sulfate
N
Na sodium
NaCl sodium chloride
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NKDA non-ketotic diabetic acidosis
NPO nothing by mouth
NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NTD neural tube defect
NV nausea & vomiting
O
OD right eye
OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
ORIF open reduction internal fixation
OS left eye
OU both eyes
P
PABA para-aminobenzoic acid
pc after meals
PCA patient controlled analgesia, posterior communicating artery
PCV packed cell volume
PD peritoneal dialysis
PDD pervasive development disorder
PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PERL pupils equal, react to light
PERRLA pupils equal, round, react to light, accommodation
PET positron emission tomography
PFT pulmonary function test
PG prostaglandin
PH past history
PI present illness
PICC peripherally inserted central venous catheter
PID pelvic inflammatory disease
PMI point of maximal impulse
PNH paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
PO by mouth
PRBC packed red blood cells
PS pyloric stenosis
PSA prostate specific antigen
PT prothrombin time
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PUD peptic ulcer disease
PVD peripheral vascular disease
Px pneumothorax
Q
QD everyday
QID four times a day
QOD every other day

R
RA rheumatoid arthritis
RAI radioactive iodine
RAIU radioactive iodine uptake
RCA right coronary artery
RHD rheumatic heart disease
RIJ right internal jugular
RLQ right lower quadrant
RM respiratory movement
ROM range of motion
RSC right subclavian
RUQ right upper quadrant
Rx prescription, pharmacy
S
S/S signs & symptoms
SAB spontaneous abortion
SAST serum aspartate aminotransferase
SB spina bifida
SBO small bowel obstruction
SGPT serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase
SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
SOB short(ness) of breath
SR sedimentation rate
STD sexually transmitted disease
STH somatotropic hormone
STM short term memory
SUI stress urinary incontinence
SVR systemic vascular resistance
Sx symptoms
T
T3 triiodothyronine
T4 thyroxine
TBSA total body surface area
TCDB turn, cough, deep breathe
TEP transesophageal puncture
THR total hip replacement
TIA transient ischemic attack
TIBC total iron binding capacity
TID three times a day
TIL tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
TKR total knee replacement
TNM tumor, node, metastases
TP tuberculin precipitation
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TUPR trans-urethral prostatic resection
TUR (or TURP) trans-urethral resection of the prostate

U
UA urinalysis
UAO upper airway obstruction
UBW usual body weight
UGI upper gastrointestinal
UPJ ureteropelvic junction
URI upper respiratory infection
US ultrasonic
UTI urinary tract infection
V
VA visual acuity
VBAC vaginal birth after caeserean
VF/Vfib ventricular fibrillation
VLDL very low density lipoprotein
VMA vanillylmandelic acid
VSD ventricular septal defect
VT/Vtach ventricular tachycardia
VW vessel wall
W
W/C wheelchair
WBC white blood cell
WD well developed
WHO World Health Organization
WN well nourished
WNL within normal limits