A

ABC Airway Breathing Circulation

ABD Abdomen

ABG arterial blood gases

ac before meals
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme
ACLS advanced cardiac life support

ALS advanced life support

ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ADL activities of daily living
AFB acid-fast bacilli
AFP alpha-fetoprotein
AGA appropriate for gestational age
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AKA above knee amputation
ALP alkaline phosphatase
ALT alanine transaminase, alanine

aminotransferase
AMA against medical advice
AMI acute myocardial infarction
AP apical pulse
ARF acute renal failure
ASD atrial septal defect
AST aspartate aminotransferase
ATN acute tubular necrosis
AU both ears
AVB atrio-ventricular block

B
BBS bilateral breath sounds
BE barium enema
BG blood glucose
BI brain injury
BID twice a day
B/K below knee
BM bowel movement or breast milk
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRM biologic response modifiers
BRP bathroom privileges
BS bowel sounds
BSA body surface area
BSE breast self examination
BT bowel tones
BUN blood urea nitrogen

C
C&S culture and sensitivity
Ca calcium, cancer, carcinoma
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
CCK cholecystokinin
CCPD continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis
CEA cultured epithelial autograft
CFT complement-fixation test
CIN cervical intraepithelial neoplasm
CL cleft lip
CMS circulation, motion, sensation
CO cardiac output
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease
CP chest pain, cleft palate
CPAP continuous positive airway pressure
CPD cephalo-pelvic disproportion
CPP cerebral perfusion pressure
CPPD chest percussion and post drainage
CRF chronic renal failure
CRRT continuous renal replacement therapy
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
DCCT Diabetes Control and Complication

Trials
DEX (DXT) blood sugar
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
ECF extracellular fluid, extended care facility
EENT eye, ear, nose and throat
EMC ensephalomyocarditis
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
FD fatal dose, focal distance
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
GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase
GI gastrointestinal
GOT glutamic oxalic transaminase
GU genitourinary
GVHD graft-versus-host-disease

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
IBC iron binding capacity
IBD inflammatory bowel disease
IBS irritable bowel syndrome
IBW ideal body weight
ICCE intracapsular cataract extraction
ICF imtermediate care facility
ICP intracranial pressure
ICS intercostal space
ICT inflammation of connective tissue
ICU intensive care unit
IDM infant of diabetic mother
IDDM insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IE I nspiratory exerciser
IH infectious hepatitis
IHD ischemic heart disease
IIP implantable insulin pump
IM intramuscular
IMV intermittent mandatory ventilation
INR international normalization ratio
IPD intermittent peritoneal dialysis
IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing
ITP immune thrombocytopenic purpura
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
L&A light and accommodation
LAD left anterior descending (artery)
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
MAR medication administration record
MCL modified chest lead
MDI multiple daily vitamin
MI myocardial infarction
MLC midline catheter
MM mucous membrane
MoAbs monoclonal antibodies
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
NED no evidence of disease
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA no known allergies
NKDA non-ketotic diabetic acidosis
NKMA no known medcation allergies
NPD nightly peritoneal dialysis
NPO nothing by mouth
NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NTD neural tube defect
NV nausea & vomiting
NYD not yet diagnosed

O
OD right eye
OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
ORIF open reduction internal fixation
OS left eye
OU both eyes

P
pc after meals
PCA patient controlled analgesia, posterior

communicating artery
PCN penicillin, primary care nurse
PCV packed cell volume
PD peritoneal dialysis
PDA patent ductus arteriosus
PDD pervasive development disorder
PDR physician's desk reference
PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PEJ percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy
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
qns quantity not sufficient
QOD every other day
qs quantity sufficient, quantity required

R
RA rheumatoid arthritis
RAD reactive airway disease
RAI radioactive iodine
RAIU radioactive iodine uptake
RCA right coronary artery
RDW red cell distribution width
REEDA redness, edema, ecchymosis,

drainage, approximation
RHD rheumatic heart disease, relative

hepatic dullness
RIJ right internal jugular
RLQ right lower quadrant
RM respiratory movement
ROM range of motion
ROS review of systems
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
SNF skilled nursing facility
SOB short(ness) of breath
SR sedimentation rate
SS social services
STD sexually transmitted disease
STH somatotropic hormone
STM short term memory

STI sexually transmitted infections

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
TED (hose) thrombo-embolism deterrent
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
TNF tumor necrosis factor
TNM tumor, node, metastases
TNTC too numerous to mention
TP tuberculin precipitation
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TTN transient tachypnea of the newborn
TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
TUPR trans-urethral prostatic resection
TUR (or TURP) trans-urethral resection of

the prostate
TWB touch weight bear
TWE tap water enema
Tx treatment, traction

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
UVJ ureterovesical junction

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

? questionable

+ positive

- negative

۸ approximately

› greater than

‹ less than

= equal

⇧ higher or increased

⇩ lower or decreased

1° primary

2° secondary

∆ change

♀ female

♂ male

ĉ with

ŝ without

â before
р after6