| A&O |
alert and oriented |
| A&P |
auscultation and percussion |
| A&W |
alive and well |
| A&P |
Assessment and Plan |
| AA |
Alcoholics Anonymous |
| AAA |
abdominal aortic aneurysm |
| AAROM |
active-assistive range of motion |
| AB |
abortion / abdominal / antibody |
| ABCD |
asymmetry, border, color, diameter (occurs in dermatology files - describes melanoma) |
| ABD |
abdomen |
| ABE |
acute bacterial endocarditis |
| ABF |
aortobifemoral |
| ABG |
arterial blood gas (most common expansion) / air-bone gap |
| ABI |
ankle-brachial index |
| AC |
acromioclavicular |
| a.c. |
before meals |
| accel(s) |
acceleration(s) |
| ACE |
angiotensin-converting enzyme / acute cerebral encephalopathy |
| ACF |
acute care facility |
| ACL |
anterior cruciate ligament |
| ACLF |
assisted care living facility |
| ACLS |
advanced cardiac life support |
| ACS |
acute coronary syndrome |
| ad lib |
as desired |
| ADD |
attention deficit disorder |
| ADHD |
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| ADL |
activities of daily living |
| ADR | adverse drug reaction / Adriamycin / acute dystonic reaction |
| AFI |
amniotic fluid index |
| Afib (slang) |
atrial fibrillation |
| AFO |
ankle-foot orthosis |
| AFP |
alpha fetoprotein |
| AGA |
appropriate for gestational age |
| AICD |
automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator |
| AIDS |
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| AKA |
above-knee amputation |
| AI |
aortic insufficiency |
| ALL |
acute lymphocytic leukemia / acute lymphoblastic leukemia |
| AMA |
against medical advice |
| AML |
acute myelogenous leukemia |
| AS |
aortic stenosis |
| ATN |
acute tubular necrosis |
| AVR |
aortic valve replacement |
| BBB |
bundle branch block |
| BiPAP |
bilevel positive airway pressure |
| BKA |
below-knee amputation |
| BMI |
body mass index
|
| BOOP | bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia |
| BP |
blood pressure |
| BPH |
benign prostatic hypertrophy / benign prostatic hyperplasia |
| BSO |
bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
| BSS |
balanced salt solution |
| C. diff |
Clostridium difficile |
| CABG (sounds "cabbage") |
coronary artery bypass graft |
| CAD |
coronary artery disease |
| cath |
catheter / catheterization |
| CBD |
common bile duct |
| CBI |
continuous bladder irrigation |
| CCE |
clubbing, cyanosis, edema |
| CCU |
coronary care unit |
| CHF |
congestive heart failure |
| CIC |
clean intermittent catheterization |
| CLL |
chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| CML |
chronic myelogenous leukemia |
| CMT |
cervical motion tenderness / Charcot-Marie-Tooth |
| CMV |
cytomegalovirus |
| CNS |
central nervous system |
| C&S |
culture and sensitivity |
| COPD |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CPAP |
continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPD |
cephalopelvic disproportion |
| CPM |
continuous passive motion (device) - ortho, rehab files |
| CPR |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CPS |
Child Protective Services |
| C section |
cesarean section |
| CSF |
cerebrospinal fluid |
| C-spine |
cervical spine |
| CTA |
clear to auscultation |
| CTAP |
clear to auscultation and percussion |
| CVA |
cerebrovascular accident / costovertebral angle |
| D&C |
dilatation and curettage / dilation and curettage |
| DC |
discharge OR discontinue |
| DCIS |
ductal carcinoma in situ |
| DDD |
degenerative disk disease |
| DIC |
disseminated intravascular coagulopathy |
| DIP |
distal interphalangeal (joint) |
| DJD |
degenerative joint disease |
| DKA |
diabetic ketoacidosis |
| DM |
diabetes mellitus |
| DME | durable medical equipment / director of medical education / degenerative myoclonus epilepsy |
| DNI |
do not intubate |
| DNR |
do not resuscitate / DO NOT RESUSCITATE |
| DRE |
digital rectal exam |
| DTR |
deep tendon reflex |
| DT / DTs |
delirium tremens |
| DVT |
deep vein thrombosis / deep venous thrombosis |
| EBL |
estimated blood loss |
| EBRT |
external beam radiation therapy |
| EBV |
Epstein-Barr virus |
| ECA |
external carotid artery |
| ECT |
electroconvulsive therapy |
| EDC |
estimated date of confinement / estimated date of conception |
| EF |
ejection fraction |
| EGA |
estimated gestational age |
| EGBUS |
external genitalia, Bartholin, urethral and Skene (glands) |
| EGD |
esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
| EGJ |
esophagogastric junction |
| EHL |
extensor hallucis longus |
| EKG |
electrocardiogram |
| EMG |
electromyogram |
| EMS |
emergency medical services |
| EMT |
emergency medical technician |
| ENT |
ears, nose, throat |
| EOM |
extraocular movement / extraocular muscle |
| EOMI |
extraocular movements intact / extraocular muscles intact |
| EOMS |
extraocular movements / extraocular muscles |
| EPS |
electrophysiologic study |
| ER |
emergency room |
| ERCP |
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography |
| ESR |
erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| ESRD |
end-stage renal disease |
| ESWL |
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy |
| ET |
endotracheal tube |
| ETOH |
ethanol |
| FBS |
fasting blood sugar |
| FEV1 |
forced expiratory volume in one second |
| FFP |
fresh frozen plasma |
| FNA |
fine needle aspiration |
| GAD |
generalized anxiety disorder |
| GBS |
group B strep / - group B streptococcus |
| GC |
gonorrhea |
| GCS |
Glasgow coma scale |
| GERD |
gastroesophageal reflux disease |
| GTT |
glucose tolerance test |
| G-tube |
gastrostomy tube |
| GU |
genitourinary |
| GYN |
gynecology |
| H&H |
hemoglobin and hematocrit |
| H&P |
history and physical |
| HBO |
hyperbaric oxygen |
| HCG |
human chorionic gonadotropin |
| HCT |
hematocrit |
| HCTZ |
hydrochlorothiazide |
| HEENT |
head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat |
| HEME/ONC |
hematology/oncology |
| HGB / Hgb |
hemoglobin |
| HIV |
human immunodeficiency virus |
| HNP |
herniated nucleus pulposus |
| HPI |
history of present illness |
| HPV |
human papilloma virus |
| HR |
heart rate / hallux rigidus / Harrington rod |
| HRT |
hormone replacement therapy |
| HSM |
hepatosplenomegaly |
| HSV |
herpes simplex virus |
| HTN |
hypertension |
| I&D |
incision and drainage / irrigation and debridement |
| I&O |
in and out / input and output / intake and output |
| IBD |
inflammatory bowel disease / irritable bowel disease |
| IBS |
irritable bowel syndrome |
| ICD |
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator |
| ICP |
intracranial pressure |
| ICU |
intensive care unit |
| ID |
infectious disease |
| IDA |
iron-deficiency anemia |
| IDC |
idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy / infiltrating ductal carcinoma |
| IDD |
insulin-dependent diabetes |
| IDDM |
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
| ILD |
interstitial lung disease |
| IM |
intramedullary / intramuscular |
| IMF | intermaxillary fixation / idiopathic myelofibrosis / inframammary fold |
| IOL |
intraocular lens |
| IOP |
intraocular pressure |
| IP |
interphalangeal |
| IT |
iliotibial |
| ITP |
idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura |
| IUD |
intrauterine device |
| IUP |
intrauterine pregnancy |
| IV |
intravenous |
| IVC |
inferior vena cava |
| IVP |
intravenous pyelogram |
| IVUS | intravascular ultrasound |
| JP |
Jackson-Pratt / as in JP drain or Jackson-Pratt drain |
| JVD |
jugular venous distention |
| JVP |
jugular venous pressure |
| KUB |
kidneys, ureters, bladder |
| L&D |
labor and delivery |
| LAD |
left anterior descending / left axis deviation |
| LBBB |
left bundle branch block |
| LFT |
liver function test |
| LIMA |
left internal mammary artery |
| LLQ |
left lower quadrant |
| LMA |
laryngeal mask airway |
| LMP |
last menstrual period |
| LP |
lumbar puncture |
| LR |
lactated Ringer |
| LS |
lumbrosacral |
| L-spine |
lumbar spine |
| LV |
left ventricle / left ventricular |
| LVEDP |
left ventricular end-diastolic pressure |
| LVH |
left ventricular hypertrophy |
| lytes (slang) |
electrolytes |
| MAC |
monitored anesthesia care |
| MAR |
medication administration record |
| MCL |
medial collateral ligament |
| MCP |
metacarpophalangeal |
| MDI |
metered-dose inhaler |
| MI |
myocardial infarction |
| MOM |
milk of magnesia |
| MR |
mitral regurgitation |
| MRSA (sounds "MERSA") |
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
| MS |
mitral stenosis / morphine sulfate / multiple sclerosis |
| MSSA |
methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus |
| MTP |
metatarsophalangeal (joint) |
| MVR |
mitral valve replacement |
| NAD |
no apparent (acute) distress |
| NG tube |
nasogastric tube |
| NICU |
neonatal intensive care unit |
| NIDDM |
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
| NKDA |
no known drug allergies |
| NOS |
not otherwise specified |
| n.p.o. |
nothing by mouth |
| NSAID |
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| NSR |
normal sinus rhythm |
| NSVD |
normal spontaneous vaginal delivery |
| NYHA |
New York Heart Association |
| O&P |
ova and parasites (dictated in stool exam results) |
| OA |
osteoarthritis / occiput anterior |
| OB |
obstetrics |
| OCD |
obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| OD |
right eye |
| OR |
operating room |
| ORIF |
open reduction and internal fixation |
| OSA |
obstructive sleep apnea |
| OT |
occupational therapy |
| OTC |
over the counter |
| OU |
both eyes |
| PACU |
postanesthesia care unit |
| PAF | paroxysmal atrial fibrillation / platelet-activating factor / pollen adherence factor |
| PCA |
patient-controlled analgesia |
| PCI |
percutaneous coronary intervention |
| PCL |
posterior cruciate ligament |
| PCP |
primary care physician |
| PDA |
posterior descending artery / patent ductus arteriosus |
| PE |
physical examination |
| PE |
pulmonary embolism (or embolus) |
| PEG |
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy |
| PERRLA |
pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation |
| PFO |
patent foramen ovale |
| PFT |
pulmonary function test |
| PICC |
peripherally inserted central catheter |
| PID |
pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PIP |
proximal interphalangeal |
| PMD |
primary/private medical doctor |
| PMH |
past medical history |
| PMI |
point of maximal impulse |
| PND |
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea |
| PPI |
proton pump inhibitor |
| PRBCs |
packed red blood cells |
| protime |
prothrombin time |
| PSA |
prostate-specific antigen |
| PT |
physical therapy / posterior tibial / prothrombin time |
| PTCA |
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
| PTSD |
post-traumatic stress disorder
|
| PUBS |
percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling / perforations, ulcers, and bleeds |
| PVC |
premature ventricular contraction |
| PVD |
peripheral vascular disease |
| PVR |
postvoid residual |
| R/O |
rule out |
| RA |
rheumatoid arthritis |
| RBBB |
right bundle branch block |
| RCA |
right coronary artery |
| RDI |
respiratory disturbance index
|
| RDS |
respiratory distress syndrome |
| ROM |
range of motion / rupture of membranes |
| ROMI |
rule out myocardial infarction |
| ROS |
review of systems |
| RR |
respiratory rate |
| RRR |
regular rate and rhythm |
| RSD |
reflex sympathetic dystrophy |
| RSV |
respiratory syncytial virus |
| RV |
right ventricle |
| RVR |
rapid ventricular response |
| S/P |
status post |
| SBE |
subacute bacterial endocarditis / self-breast examination |
| SCD |
sequential compression device |
| SFA |
superficial femoral artery |
| SI |
sacroiliac (joint) |
| SIDS |
sudden infant death syndrome |
| SLE |
systemic lupus erythematosus / slit-lamp exam |
| SLR |
straight leg raise |
| SNF |
skilled nursing facility |
| SPEP |
serum protein electrophoresis |
| subcu /subq |
subcutaneous or subcutaneously |
| SSEPs |
somatosensory evoked potential |
| SSI |
sliding scale insulin |
| SSRI |
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
| STD |
sexually transmitted disease |
| SVC |
superior vena cava |
| SVG |
saphenous vein graft |
| T&A |
tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy |
| TAH |
total abdominal hysterectomy |
| TAHBSO |
total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
| TCC |
transitional cell cancer |
| TEE |
transesophageal echocardiography |
| TFCC |
triangular fibrocartilage complex |
| THA |
total hip arthroplasty |
| THR |
total hip replacement |
| TIA |
transient ischemic attack |
| tib-fib |
tibia and fibula |
| TIPS |
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt |
| TKA |
total knee arthroplasty |
| TKR |
total knee replacement |
| TLIF |
transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion |
| TM |
tympanic membrane |
| TMJ |
temporomandibular joint |
| TPN |
total parenteral nutrition |
| TR |
tricuspid regurgitation |
| T-spine |
thoracic spine |
| TURP |
transurethral resection of the prostate |
| UA |
urinalysis |
| UPEP |
urine protein electrophoresis |
| UPJ |
ureteropelvic junction |
| UPPP |
uvulopalatopharyngoplasty |
| URI |
upper respiratory infection |
| UTI |
urinary tract infection |
| UVJ |
ureterovesical junction |
| VBAC |
vaginal birth after cesarean section |
| VCUG |
voiding cystourethrogram |
| VF |
ventricular fibrillation |
| VSD |
ventriculoseptal defect |
| VT |
ventricular tachycardia |
| VTA |
vascular targeting agent / ventral tegmental area |
| WDWN |
well developed, well nourished |