A - Medical abbreviations a.c.: Before meals. As in taking a medicine before meals. a/g ratio: Albumin to globulin ratio. ACL: Anterior cruciate ligament. ACL injuries are one of the most common ligament injuries to the knee. The ACL can be sprained or completely torn from trauma and/or degeneration. Ad lib: At liberty. For example, a patient may be permitted to move out of bed freely and orders would, therefore, be for activities to be ad lib. AFR: Acute renal failure ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADR: Adverse drug reaction. If a patient is taking a prescription drug to treat high blood pressure disease AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome AKA: Above the knee amputation. Anuric: Not producing urine. A person who is anuric is often critical and may require dialysis. ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease. ADH: Antidiuretic hormone ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome. ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure ASCVD: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A form of heart disease. B - Medical abbreviations b.i.d.: Twice daily. As in taking a medicine twice daily. bld: Blood. Blood was visible on the patient’s scalp. Bandemia: Slang for elevated level of band forms of white blood cells. Bibasilar: At the bases of both lungs. For example, someone with a pneumonia in both lungs might have abnormal bibasilar breath sounds. BKA: Below the knee amputation. BMP: Basic metabolic panel. Electrolytes (potassium, sodium, carbon dioxide, and chloride) and creatinine and glucose. BP: Blood pressure. Blood pressure is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs." BPD: Borderline personality disorder. A personality disorder. BSO: Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A BSO is the removal of both of the ovaries and adjacent Fallopian tubes and often is performed as part of a total abdominal hysterectomy. C - Medical abbreviations C&S: Culture and sensitivity, performed to detect infection. C/O: Complaint of. The patient's expressed concern. cap: Capsule. Ca: Cancer; carcinoma. For example, a patient who undergoing treatment for cancer should assure that they are eating and drinking enough fluids daily, both during and after treatment. CABG. Coronary artery bypass graft. A surgery involving the heart. CBC: Complete blood count. CC: Chief complaint. The patient's main concern. CDE: Complete dental (oral) evaluation. cc: Cubic centimeters. For example, the amount of fluid removed from the body is recorded in ccs. Chem panel: Chemistry panel. A comprehensive screening blood test that indicates the status of the liver, kidneys, and electrolytes. CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea. COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CT: Chemotherapy. A type of treatment therapy for cancer. CVA: Cerebrovascular accident (Stroke). D - Medical abbreviations D/C or DC: Discontinue or discharge. For example, a doctor will D/C a drug. Alternatively, the doctor might DC a patient from the hospital. DCIS: Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. A type of breast cancer. The patient is receiving treatment for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. DDX: Differential diagnosis. A variety diagnostic possibilities are being considered to diagnose the type of cancer present in the patient. DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis. DM: Diabetes mellitus. DNC, D&C, or D and C: Dilation and curettage. Widening the cervix and scrapping with a curette for the purpose of removing tissue lining the inner surface of the womb (uterus). DNR: Do not resuscitate. This is a specific order not to revive a patient artificially if they succumb to illness. If a patient is given a DNR order, they are not resuscitated if they are near death and no code blue is called. DOE: Dyspnea on exertion. Shortness of breath with activity. DTR: Deep tendon reflexes. These are reflexes that the doctor tests by banging on the tendons with a rubber hammer. DVT: Deep venous thrombosis (blood clot in large vein). E - Medical abbreviations ETOH: Alcohol. ETOH intake history is often recorded as part of a patient history. ECT: Electroconclusive therapy. A procedure used to control seizures (convulsions). F - Medical abbreviations FX: Fracture. G - Medical abbreviations g: gram, a unit of weight. The cream is available in both 30 and 60 gram tubes. GOMER: Slang for "get out of my emergency room." GvHD: Graft vs. host disease. It is complicated by the syndromes of acute and chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). gtt: Drops. H - Medical abbreviations H&H: Hemoglobin and hematocrit. When the H & H is low, anemia is present. The H&H can be elevated in persons who have lung disease from long term smoking or from disease, such as polycythemia rubra vera. H&P: History and physical examination. h.s.: At bedtime. As in taking a medicine at bedtime. H/O or h/o: History of. A past event that occurred. HA: Headache. HRT: Hormone replacement or hormone replacement therapy. HTN: Hypertension. I - Medical abbreviations I&D: Incision and drainage. IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis ICD: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICU: Intensive care unit. The patient was moved to the intensive care unit. IM: Intramuscular. This is a typical notation when noting or ordering an injection (shot) given into muscle, such as with B12 for pernicious anemia. IMP: Impression. This is the summary conclusion of the patient's condition by the healthcare professional at that particular date and time. ITU: Intensive therapy unit in vitro: In the laboratory in vivo: In the body IPF: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A type of lung disease. IU: International units. J - Medical abbreviations JT: Joint. K - Medical abbreviations K: Potassium. An essential electrolyte frequently monitored regularly in intensive care. KCL: Potassium chloride. L - Medical abbreviations LCIS: Lobular Carcinoma In Situ. A type of cancer of the breast. The patient is receiving treatment for Lobular Carcinoma In Situ. LBP: Low back pain. LBP is one of most common medical complaints. LLQ: Left lower quadrant. Diverticulitis pain is often in the LLQ of the abdomen. LUQ: Left upper quadrant. The spleen is located in the LUQ of the abdomen. Lytes: Electrolytes (potassium, sodium, carbon dioxide, and chloride). M - Medical abbreviations MCL: Medial collateral ligament. mg: Milligrams. M/H: Medical history ml: Milliliters. MVP: Mitral valve prolapse. N - Medical abbreviations N/V: Nausea or vomiting. Na: Sodium. An essential electrolyte frequently monitored regularly in intensive care. NCP: Nursing care plan npo: Nothing by mouth. For example, if a patient was about to undergo a surgical operation requiring general anesthesia, they may be required to avoid food or beverage prior to the procedure. NSR: Normal sinus rhythm of the heart O - Medical abbreviations O&P: Ova and parasites. Stool O & P is tested in the laboratory to detect parasitic infection in persons with chronic diarrhea. O.D.: Right eye. O.S.: Left eye. O.U.: Both eyes. ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation, such as with the orthopedic repair of a hip fracture. P - Medical abbreviations P: Pulse. Pulse is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs." p¯: After meals. As in take two tablets after meals. p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os. p.r.n.: As needed. So that it is not always done, but done only when the situation calls for it (or example, taking a pain medication only when having pain and not without pain). PCL: Posterior cruciate ligament. PD: Progressive disease. Patients at risk of developing progressive disease of the kidneys include those with proteinuria or hematuria. PERRLA: Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation. PFT: Pulmonary function test. A test to evaluate the how well the lungs are functioning. PERRLA: Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation. Plt: Platelets, one of the blood forming elements along with the white and red blood cells. PMI: Point of maximum impulse of the heart when felt during examination, as in beats against the chest. PMS: Premenstrual syndrome PT: Physical therapy PTH: Parathyroid hormone PTSD: Post-traumatic stress syndrome PUD: Peptic ulcer disease. A type of ulcer of the stomach. Q - Medical abbreviations q.d.: Each day. As in taking a medicine daily. q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily. q2h: Every 2 hours. As in taking a medicine every 2 hours. q3h: Every 3 hours. As in taking a medicine every 3 hours. qAM: Each morning. As in taking a medicine each morning. qhs: At each bedtime. As in taking a medicine each bedtime. qod: Every other day. As in taking a medicine every other day. qPM: Each evening. As in taking a medicine each evening. R - Medical abbreviations RA: Rheumatoid arthritis. A type of joint disease. RDS: Respiratory distress syndrome R/O: Rule out. Doctors frequently will rule out various possible diagnoses when figuring out the correct diagnosis. REB: Rebound, as in rebound tenderness of the abdomen when pushed in and then released. RLQ: Right lower quadrant. The appendix is located in the RLQ of the abdomen. ROS: Review of systems. An overall review concerns relating to the organ systems, such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurologic systems. RUQ: Right upper quadrant. The liver is located in the RUQ of the abdomen. S - Medical abbreviations s/p: Status post. For example, a person who had a knee operation would be s/p a knee operation. SAD: Season affective disorder. A type of depression that occurs during the winter months when there is little light. SOB: Shortness of breath. SQ: Subcutaneous. This is a typical notation when noting or ordering an injection (shot) given into the fatty tissue under the skin, such as with insulin for diabetes mellitus. T - Medical abbreviations T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs." T&A: Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy t.i.d.: Three times daily. As in taking a medicine three times daily. tab: Tablet TAH: Total abdominal hysterectomy TAH: Total abdominal hysterectomy. A type of surgery to remove a woman’s uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. THR: Total hip replacement TKR: Total knee replacement TMJ: Tempomandibular joint U - Medical abbreviations UA or u/a: Urinalysis. A UA is a typical part of a comprehensive physical examination. U or u**: Unit. Mistaken as the number 0 or 4, causing a 10-fold overdose or greater (for example, 4U seen as "40" or 4u seen as "44"); mistaken as "cc" so the dose is given in volume instead of units (for example, 4u seen as 4cc). ULN: Upper limits of normal URI: Upper respiratory infection, such as sinusitis or the common cold ut dict: As directed. As in taking a medicine according to the instructions that the health care professional gave in the office or in the past UTI: Urinary tract infection V - Medical abbreviations VSS: Vital signs are stable. This notation means that from the standpoint of the temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, the patient is doing well. W - Medical abbreviations Wt: Weight. Body weight is often recorded as part of the physical examination. X - Medical abbreviations XRT: Radiotherapy (external). A type of treatment that uses radiation.
