Abbreviation Definition

Symbols

♂ male
♀ female
↓ decrease
↑ increase
≥ greater than or equal to
≤ less than or equal to
≈ approximately
c̅ with
(+) positive
(-) negative
/ per
@ at

Table 5: A - Abbreviation of Medical Terms

a.c. before meals

A.M. or a.m. before noon
A/G albumin globulin ratio
ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACTH Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
ad lib as much as needed; desired
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ADL activities of daily living
AFB Acid Fast Bacillus
Ag antigen
AGA average gestational age
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AKA Above Knee Amputation
AMA Against Medical Advice
amt. amount
ANA antinuclear antibodies
anes. anesthesia
Anti - HA antibody to hepatitis A
Anti - HB antibody to hepatitis B
Anti - HBc antibody to hepatitis B core antigen
Anti - HBc antibody to hepatitis B “c” antigen
Anti - HBs antibody to hepatitis B “surface” antigen
AP & Lat. anteroposterior and lateral
ARC AIDS Related Complex
ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
ARF Acute Renal Failure
ASAP as soon as possible
ASHD Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
ASO Antistreptolysin - O

B
b.i.d. twice a day
B.R.P. bathroom privilege
Ba barium
BAO branch artery occlusion
BBB bundle branch block
BCG Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccine
BKA Below Knee Amputation
BM bowel movement
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen

C
C&S Culture & Sensitivity
C. centigrade / Celsius
CPD Cephalopelvic Disproportion
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid
C/S cesarean section
CA carcinoma
Ca. calcium
CAD Coronary Artery Disease
cap. capsule
CAPD Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
CAT Scan Computerized Axial Tomography
Cath. catheter
CBC complete blood count
CBD common bile duct
CBI continuous bladder irrigation
CC chief complaint
cc cubic centimeter
CCU Coronary Care Unit
CHD Coronary Heart Disease
CHF Congestive Heart Failure
CHO carbohydrate
Chol. cholesterol
Cl chlorides
CT clotting time
cm. centimeter
CNS central nervous system
CO carbon monoxide
CO₂ carbon dioxide
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CPK creatinine phosphokinase
CPR cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
CRF chronic renal failure
cu. mm. cubic millimeter
CVA Cerebrovascular Accident
CVP Central Venous Pressure
CXR chest x-ray

D
D&C Dilatation and Curettage
D/C discontinue
D5 NS 5% Dextrose in Normal Saline
D5LR 5% Dextrose in Lactated Ringers
D5W 5% Dextrose in Water
DOA dead on arrival
DOE dyspnea on exertion
DR Delivery Room
DTR deep tendon reflex
DUB Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
Dx diagnosis
 E
E.N.T. Ear, Nose, & Throat
ECCE extracapsular cataract extraction
ECT electro-convulsive therapy
EEG electroencephalogram
EKG electrocardiogram
elix. elixir
EMB ethambutol
EMG electromyography
EOM extra ocular movement
ESR Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
ESRD End-Stage Renal Disease
ET endotracheal
ETA endotracheal tube aspirate
ETOH ethanol

F
F.C. Foley Catheter
F.R. fluid restriction
FBS fasting blood sugar
Fe iron
FHR fetal heart rate
FO2 Fraction of inspired O2
FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone
FT ♀ full term female
FT♂ full term male
Fx. fracture

G
G.T.T. Glucose Tolerance Test
G.U. genitourinary
GC gonococcus (gonorrhea)
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
GSCS gram staining, culture and sensitivity
GDM Gestational Diabetic
gm. gram
gtt. / gtts drop / drops
GYN/gyne gynecology

H
h.s. hour of sleep
H2O water
HAV hepatitis A virus
HBcAg hepatitis B core antigen
HBeAg hepatitis B “e” antigen
HBV hepatitis B virus
Hct hematocrit
HDL High Density Lipoprotein
HEENT head, eyes, ears, nose and throat
Hgb. hemoglobin
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HPV human papilloma virus

I
I&D incision & drainage
I&O intake & output
I.U. international units
I.U.G.R. intrauterine growth retardation
IBW ideal body weight
ICCE intracapsular cataract extraction
ICP Intracranial Pressure
ICU Intensive Care Unit
IgA immunoglobulin A
IgD immunoglobulin D
IgE immunoglobulin E
IgG immunoglobulin G
IgM immunoglobulin M
IM intramuscular
Inf. Hep. infectious hepatitis
INH isoniazid
IOL intraocular lens
IOP intraocular pressure
IPPB Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
IV intravenous
IVF intravenous fluid
IVP intravenous pyelogram
IVPB intravenous piggyback

K
K potassium
kg. kilogram
KUB kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray plain film of
abdomen
KVO keep vein open

L
L liter
Lab. laboratory
Lap laparatomy
Lb pound
LBBB left bundle branch block
LDH lactic dehydrogenase
LE lupus erythematosus
LH luteinizing hormone
liq. liquid
LLQ left lower quadrant
LMP last menstrual period
LOA left occipitoanterior
LOC level of consciousness
LOP left occipitoposterior
LOT left occipitotranasverse
LP lumbar puncture
LSA left sacroanterior
LSP left sacroposterior
LST left sacrotransverse
LUQ lower upper quadrant (abdomen)
LV left ventricle
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy

M
mcg. microgram
MCH Maternal and Child Health
Meq. milliequivalents (per liter)
Mg magnesium
mg. milligram
MI myocardial infarction
mL milliliter or cc
mm. millimeter
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging

N
N nitrogen
N.S. (n.s.) normal saline
N/A not applicable
n/v nausea and vomiting
Na sodium
NaCl sodium chloride
NB Newborn
NGT nasogastric tube
NHM No Heroic Measure (SPH)
NPH Neutral Protamine Hagedorn = insulin with
prolonged effect
NPO nothing by mouth
nsg nursing
NSVD normal spontaneous vaginal delivery

O
o.d. right eye
o.s. left eye
O.T. occupational therapy
o.u. both eyes
O2 oxygen
OBS organic brain syndrome
O.D. once a day
oint. ointment
OOB out of bed
OPD out patient department
ophth ophthalmology
OR operating room
ORIF open reduction, internal fixation
ortho. orthopedic
oz. ounce

P
P pulse
p̄ after
p.c. after meals
P.M.I point of maximum impulse
p.o. by mouth
P.P. post partum
P.P.D. Purified Protein Derivative (tuberculin)
p.r.n. whenever necessary
P.R.O.M. premature rupture of membranes
P.T.A. prior to admission
P.Z.I. protamine zinc insulin
PE physical exam
PAC premature atrial contractions
Pap Papanicolaou
PAP Prostate Acid Phosphatase
Pb lead
PBI protein bound iodine
PCP Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
PD peritoneal dialysis
PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus
PEEP positive end expiratory pressure
PERRLA pupils equal, round, react to light &
accommodation
pH. hydrogen ion concentration
PID pelvic inflammatory disease
PKU phenylketonuria
PO2 partial oxygen tension
PO4 Phosphate
psych. psychiatry
pt. patient
PTH parathyroid hormone
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PUD Peptic Ulcer Disease
PVC premature ventricular contraction
PZA pyrazinamide

Q
q every
q.d. every day
q.h. every hour
q.i.d. four times a day
q.o.d. every other day
q.o.h. every other hour
q2h, q3h, q4h, etc. every two, three, four, etc. hours
qt. quart

R
R.N. Registered Nurse
R.T. respiratory therapy
R/O rule out
RA Rheumatoid Arthritis
RAIU radioactive iodine uptake
RBBB right bundle branch block
RBC red blood cells or count
Rehab. Rehabilitation
RF rheumatoid factor for arthritis
Rh rhesus blood factor
RHD rheumatic heart disease
RMT right mentotransverse
ROA right occiput anterior
ROM range of motion
ROP right occiput posterior
ROT right occiput transverse
RR recovery room
RSA right sacrum anterior
RSR regular sinus rhythm
RST right sacrum transverse
Rt. right
RUE right upper extremity
RUQ right upper quadrant
Rx Prescription
 S
S̅ without
s.l. Sub-lingual
S/P Status post
S/S Signs and symptoms
SA Sino-atrial
SA Block Sino-atrial block
sc subcutaneous
sed. rate sedimentation rate
SGA small for gestational age
SGOT serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SLE systematic lupus erythematosus
SOB shortness of breath
Sod. Bicarb (NaHCO3) sodium bicarbonate
Sp. Gr. specific gravity
ss half
ST sinus tachycardia
Staph staphylococcus (us)
stat. at once
Strep streptococcus
SVC superior vena cava

T
TOF Tetralogy of Fallot
T&A tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy
TAHBSO total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral
salpingo-orphorectomy
t.i.d. three times a day
T.O. telephone orders
T3 triiodothyronine
T4 thyroxine
tab. tablet
TB tuberculosis
Tbsp. tablespoon
temp. temperature
TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
TIA transient ischemic attack
TPN Total Parenteral Nutrition
TPR temperature, pulse, respiration
trach. tracheotomy
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone
tsp. teaspoon
TUR transurethral resection
TURP transurethral resection of the prostate

U
u unit
U.G.I.B. Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed
USD ultrasound
U.S.P. United States Pharmacopeia
U/A urinalysis
UGI Upper Gastrointestinal
UGIS Upper Gastrointestinal Series
URI upper respiratory infection
UTI urinary tract infection

V
V.D. venereal disease
V.D.R.L. Venereal Disease Research Lab (serology)
VS vital signs
VSD ventricular septal defect
VA visual acuity
VBAC vaginal birth after cesarean section
VPB ventricular premature beat
VR ventricular rate
VT tidal volume

W
WBC white blood cells or count
wt. weight
 Z
Zn zinc