Universidad de San Martin de Porres

Facultad de Medicina Humana

MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS
a.c.

before meals

BVM

bag-valve-mask

DW

distilled water

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

_c

with

D5W

5% dextrose in water

AD

right ear

c-spine

cervical spine

Dx

diagnosis

ADL

activities of daily living

CA

cancer

ED

emergency department

ad lib

as desired

CAD

coronary artery disease

EEG

electroencephalogram

AMA

against medical advine

CAT

computerized axial tomography

EENT

eye, ear, nose, throat

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

CBC

complete blood count

electrocardiogram

AOx3

alert & oriented to person, time, place

CC

chief complaint

EKG /
ECG
EOA

esophageal obturator airway

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

CHD

coronary heart disease

congestive heart failure

estimated

left ear

CHF

est

AS

complains of

endotracheal

both ears

c/o

ET

AU

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

estimated time of arrival

axillary

COPD

ETA

Ax

cerebrospinal fluid

ethyl alcohol, intoxicated

twice a day

CSF

ETOH

bid

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

foreign body obstructed airway

basic life support

CVA

FBOA

BLS

cardiovascular unit

fasting blood sugar

bowel movement

CVU

FBS

BM

FH

family history

BOW

bag of waters

d/c

discontinue
dilation & curettage

fetal heart sounds

blood pressure

D&C

FHS

B/P

do not resuscitate

fever undetermined origin

beats per minute

DNR

FUO

bpm

Fx

fracture

BR

bedrest

DOA

dead on arrival
date of birth

gall bladder

bathroom privileges

DOB

GB

BRP

delirium tremens

gastrointestinal

breath sounds

DT's

GI

BS

GU

genitourinary

ENGLISH III

Universidad de San Martin de Porres

Facultad de Medicina Humana

gtt(s)

drop(s)

LOC

level of consciousness

oxygen

hs

hour of sleep, bedtime

LP

lumbar puncture

OB

obstetrics

Hct

hematocrit

LUQ, LUL

left upper quadrant (abdomen), lobe

(lung)

OD

right eye, overdose

Hgb

hemoglobin

os

mouth

MA

mental age

OS

left eye

MAST

medical antishock trousers

OT

occupational therapy

MCI

mass casualty incident

OU

both eyes

meds

medications

_p

after

MI

myocardial infarction

pulse

MICU

mobile intensive care unit

P&A

percussion & auscultation

MS

morphine sulfate, multiple sclerosis

PAC

premature atrial contraction

MVA

motor vehicle accident

palp

palpation

NVD

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

PAT

paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

Na+

sodium

pc

after meals

NaCl

sodium chloride

pCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

N/C

nasal cannula, no complaints

PDR

physician's desk reference

neg

negative

PE

physical exam, pulmonary embolism

NGT

nasogastric tube

per

by or through

nitro

nitroglycerine

NKA

no known allergies

PERL(A)

pupils equal & reactive to light (and

accommodation)

noct

night

PET

positron emission tomography

NPO

nothing by mouth

PH

past history

NS

normal saline

pH

hydrogen ion concentration

NSR

normal sinus rhythm

PID

pelvic inflammatory disease

HIV
HOB
HR
Hx
I&O
ICP
ICU
IM
IV
IVP
K+
KCl
KUB
L
L&D

human immuno virus

head of bed
heart rate
history
intake and output
intracranial pressure
intensive care unit
intramuscular
intravenous
intravenous pyelogram
potassium
potassuim chloride
kidney, ureter, bladder
lumbar
labor and delivery

lac

laceration

LD

lethal dose

LLQ, LLL

left lower quadrant (abdomen), lobe

(lung)

LMP

last menstrual period

ENGLISH III

Universidad de San Martin de Porres

Facultad de Medicina Humana

PKU

phenylketonuria

RUQ, RLL

right upper quadrant, lobe

TPR

temperature, pulse, respirations

po

by mouth

Rx

take (prescription)

tr

tincture

pO2

partial pressure of oxygen

_s

without

TT

tetanus toxiod

PPD

purified protein derivative (TB test)

S&S

signs & symptoms

TUR

transurethral resection

prn

as needed, whenever necessary

Ss

1/2

TX

traction

pt

patient, pint

SA

sinoatrial

UA

urinalysis

PT

physical therapy

SB

small bowel

umb

umbilicus

PVC

premature ventricular contraction

SIDS

sudden infant death syndrome

unc.

unconscious

Px

physical exam, prognosis

Sig:

label/write

unk

unknown

every

SL

sublingual

ung

ointment

qd

every day

SOB

shortness of breath

URI

upper respiratory infection

qh

every hour

sp. gr.

specific gravity

US

ultrasonic

q2h, q3h,
...

every two hours, every three hours,...

SQ, sub q

subcutaneous

USP

United States Pharmacopeia

stat

immediately

UTI

urinary tract infection

qid

four times a day

STD

sexually transmitted disease

V fib

ventricular fibrillation

qod

every other day

SVT

supraventricular tachycardia

V tach

ventricular tachycardia

qs

quantity sufficient

Sx

symptoms

VD

venereal disease

respirations, rectal

temperature, thoracic

vo

verbal order

RBC

red blood cell/count

T& A

tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

V/S

vital signs

RL

ringer's lactate
tab

tablet

WBC

white blood cell/count

RLQ, RLL

right lower quadrant (abdomen), lobe

(lung)

TB

tuberculosis

w/c

wheelchair

RML

right middle lobe (lung)

TIA

transient ischemic attack

WNL

within normal limits

R/O

rule out

tid

three times a day

y/o

year(s) old

ROM

range of motion

TMJ

temporomandibular joint

ENGLISH III

Universidad de San Martin de Porres

Facultad de Medicina Humana

ENGLISH III