*Joint Commission does not allow the use of the following abbreviations: QD, QID, QOD, Mg, MgSO4,

MSO4, I.U. Each of these are crossed out and highlighted on the list to follow here. You must write the term out for these prohibited old abbreviations. *Also prohibited by JCAHO is the use of a period in front of a number by itself (e.g. .25% is not correct). There must be a zero in ahead of the period (e.g. 0.25% is correct). *Lastly, when the value of a number is an integer or whole number then, write the number for its value. For example, it is accepted to write 1% Xylocacine. It is incorrect to write 1.0% Xylocaine. Next is a list of medical abbreviations on the left column and its meaning on the right side. Abbrv. # #NOF x/12 x/40 x/52 x/7 5-HT Meaning Diagnosis; Also can mean "change" Differential diagnosis, i.e. the list of possible diagnoses Fracture Fracture to the neck of the femur Psychiatry Sigmoidoscopy x number of months x number of weeks of pregnancy x number of weeks x number of days Serotonin, 5-Hydroxytryptamine

A
A&Ox3 A&Ox4 A&W AAA AAT Ab ABC ABCD ABD or abd ABG Alert and Oriented to person, place, and time Alert and Oriented to person, place, time, and circumstances (often used interchangeably with A&Ox3) Alive and well Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Pronounced "Triple A" activity as tolerated Antibody aspiration biopsy cytology "Asymmetry, borders, color, diameter" features on considering "is it a Melanoma"? abdomen Arterial blood gases

ABMT ABPI ABVD ABX a.c. ACE ACEI Ach ACL ACLS ACTH AD ADA ADC ADD ADH ADHD ADL ad lib adm ADR AEM AF AF AF AFB AFO AFP Ag AHF AHG AHH AI AI AICD AID AIDS AIH AIIRB aka AKA

Autologous bone marrow transplantation Ankle brachial pressure index doxorubicin bleomycin vinblastine dacarbazine First-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. antibiotics before food, from Latin, ante cibum Angiotensin converting enzyme Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors Acetylcholine Anterior cruciate ligament Advanced cardiac life support Adrenocorticotropic hormone Alzheimer's Disease Adenosine deaminase AIDS dementia complex Attention Deficit Disorder Antidiuretic hormone Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder activities of daily living as desired from Latin, ad libitum admission Adverse drug reaction Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring atrial fibrillation atrial flutter Amniotic fluid acid fast bacilli ankle-foot orthosis Alpha-fetoprotein Antigen Antihemophilic factor Antihemophilic globulin aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase Artificial insemination Aortic insufficiency Automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator Artificial insemination by donor Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome artificial insemination by husband Angiotensin II receptor antagonist also known as Above knee amputation

ALG ALL ALP ALPS ALS ALS ALT AMA AMA AMA AMC AMI AML AMP AMS AMS ANA ANCA ANF ANP ANS ANUG AP APAP APD APECED APH APLS APSAC APS aPTT AR ARB ARC ARDS ARF Arg ART ART ARM ASA

Antilymphocytic globulin Acute lymphocytic leukemia Alkaline phosphatase Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Advanced Life Support Alanine transferase Anti-mitochondrial Antibodies Against Medical Advice Advanced Maternal Age (35 years or greater) Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita Acute myocardial infarction Acute myelocytic leukemia Adenosine monophosphate Acute mountain sickness atypical measles syndrome Anti-nuclear antibody Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies Atrial natriuretic factor Atrial natriuretic peptide Autonomic nervous system Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis Alkaline phosphatase acetaminophen, paracetamol; from the chemical name N-acetyl-paraaminophenol adult polycystic disease autoimmune polyendocrinopathy Antepartum haemorrhage antiphospholipid antibody syndrome Anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex autoimmune polyglandular syndrome Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Aortic Regurgitation Angiotensin II receptor antagonist AIDS related complex Acute respiratory distress syndrome Acute renal failure Arginine antiretroviral therapy assuming room temperature, ie) the patient has died. Artificial rupture of membranes Acetylsalicylic acid - commonly known as aspirin

AS ASCAD ASD ASGUS ASCUS ASL ASO ASOT AST ASX ATCC ATG AT-III ATP ATP ATP AVM AVR AZT

Aortic stenosis arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease Atrial septal defect Atypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance American sign language Antistreptolysin O Antistreptolysin O titre Aspartate transaminase Asymptomatic American Type Culture Collection Antithymic globulin Antithrombin III acute thrombocytopenic purpura adenosine triphosphate Anti-tachycardia pacing Arteriovenous malformation Aortic valve replacement azidothymidine

B
Ba BAL BAL BAL BAO BAT BCG BCX BBMF b.d. b.i.d. BE BIBA BIB BK BKA bl.cult bld BLS BMC Barium Bronchoalveolar lavage British anti-Lewisite Blood Alcohol Level Basic acid output Brown adipose tissue Bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis vaccination) Blood culture "Bone break, me fix" Orthopedic consent form Twice daily, from Latin, bis die Twice daily, from Latin, bis in die Base excess brought in by ambulance Brought in by Bacterium Koch Below Knee Amputation Blood culture Blood Basic Life Support Bone mass content

BMD BMI BMP BMR BMT BNF BNP BOA BOI BOOP BP BP BPAD BPD BPD BPH BPM BPPV BRAT BRATY BRP BRBPR BS BS BSE BSE BSP BUN BV Bx

Bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement) Body mass index Blood Metabolic Profile Basal metabolic rate Bone marrow transplantation British National Formulary Brain natriuretic peptide Born out of Asepsis Born on island, ie. a local patient. Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia Blood pressure Bipolar disorder Bipolar Affective Disorder Bi-Parietal Diameter Borderline personality disorder Benign prostatic hyperplasia Beats per minute Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast: acronym for bland diet Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast, Yogurt: acronym for bland diet for children Bathroom Privileges Bright red blood per rectum Breath or Bowel sounds on auscultation with stethoscope Blood Sugar Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Breast self-examination Bromsulphthalein Blood urea nitrogen Bacterial vaginosis Biopsy

C
c CABG CAD CAG cAMP CA Ca CADASIL (c with a bar over it) with, from Latin, cum Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery. Pronounced "Cabbage". Coronary artery disease Coronary Artery Graft cyclic adenosine monophosphate Carcinoma, Cancer Calcium Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts

CAH CAH CAT CAPD CBC CC CCF CCK CEA CF cGMP ChE CHD CHE CHF CI CJD CK CKD CLL CML CMML CMS CMV CNS COAD COLD COPD CO CO, C/O CO CO2 COX-1 COX-2 CP CP CPAP CPK CPR CREST CRF

and Leukoencephalopathy Chronic Active Hepatitis Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Computed axial tomography Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis Complete Blood Count Cubic centimenter, or Chief Complaint Congestive cardiac failure Cholecystokinin Carcinoembryonic antigen Cystic fibrosis Cyclic guanosine monophosphate Cholinesterase Coronary heart disease Cholinesterase Congestive heart failure Confidence interval Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Creatine kinase Chronic kidney disease Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia also called Chronic myeloid leukaemia Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia Chronic mountain sickness Cytomegalovirus Central nervous system Chronic obstructive airways disease Chronic obstructive lung disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Cardiac output Complains Of... Carbon monoxide Carbon dioxide Cyclooxygenase 1 Cyclooxygenase 2 cerebral palsy Chest Pain Continuous positive airway pressure Creatine phosphokinase Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Calcinosis Raynaud Esophagus Sclerosis Teleangiectasiae Chronic renal failure

CRF CRH CRI CRP CR CS CsA CSF CT CTX CVA CVC CVD CVP CVS CVID Cx CXR

Corticotropin-releasing factor Corticotropin-releasing hormone Chronic renal insufficiency C-reactive protein Complete remission Caesarean section Ciclosporin A Cerebrospinal fluid computed axial tomography ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic Cerebrovascular accident Central venous catheter Cardiovascular disease Central venous pressure Chorionic villus sampling Common variable immunodeficiency Microbiological culture Chest X-ray

D
DA DBP D&C DCBE DCM DDD DDx DEXA DHE DHEA-S DIB DIC DIP DiPerTe DiTe DJD DKA DPT DM DNA DNI Dopamine Diastolic blood pressure Dilatation and curettage Double Contrast Barium Enema Dilated cardiomyopathy Daily Defined Doses Differential diagnosis Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Dihydoergotamine Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate Dead in Bed Disseminated intravascular coagulation Distal interphalangeal joint Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Diphtheria Tetanus Degenerative Joint Disease Diabetic Keto-Acidosis Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Diabetes Mellitus Deoxyribonucleic acid Do Not Intubate

DNR DNAR DOA DOB DOE DOSS DT DTP DUB DVT Dx

Do Not Resuscitate Do Not Attempt Resusciatation Dead on arrival Date of birth Dyspnea on exertion Docusate sodium; from the chemical name dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate Diphtheria Tetanus Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis Dysfunctional uterine bleeding Deep vein thrombosis Diagnosis

E
E E EACA EBM EBM EBV EC ECG ECMO ED ED ED EDC EDD EDD EDRF EEG EF EGF EKG ELLSCS ELISA EMC EMD EMD EMF EMG Erythrocytes Electrolytes Epsilon-aminocaproic acid Evidence-based medicine Expressed Breast Milk Epstein-Barr virus Enterically Coated Electrocardiogram Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation Emergency department Erectile Dysfunction Ectodermal dysplasia Estimated Date of Confinement (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy) Estimated Date of Delivery (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy) Estimated date of discharge Endothelium-derived relaxing factor aka Nitric oxide Electroencephalogram Ejection Fraction Epidermal Growth Factor Electrocardiogram Elective Lower Segment Caesarian Section Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Encephalomyocarditis Early Morning Discovery ElectroMechanical Dissociation Endomyocardial fibrosis Electromyography

EMLSCS EMU ENT EENT EOM EOMI EPH EPO ERCP ESL ESBL ESR ESRD ESWL ET ETT ETOH EUS

Emergency Lower Segment Caesarian Section Early Morning Urine sample (being the most concentrated generally used for pregnancy testing) Ear Nose and Throat. (Otolaryngology) eyes, ears, nose, throat Extra ocular muscles Extra ocular movements intact Edema Proteinuria Hypertension Erythropoietin Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (also ESWL) - see lithotriptor Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase gram negative bacteria Erythrocyte sedimentation rate End-stage renal disease Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (also ESL) - see lithotriptor Endothelin Endotracheal tube ethanol or ethyl alcohol Endoscopic Ultrasonography

F
FBC FBE FBG F/C FDIU FDP FEV1 Fe FF FFA FFP FHR FHT FHx FIBD FLK FNA FNC FOF Full blood count Full blood exam Fasting blood glucose Fevers or Chills Foetal Demise In Utero Fibrinogen Degradation Products Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second Iron Free Fluids (non-thickened fluids) Free fatty acids Fresh frozen plasma Fetal heart rate Fetal heart tones Family History Found in Bed Dead Funny Looking Kid (suggesting an unspecified syndrome, should now be termed "dysmorphic features") Fine Needle Aspirate Full nursing care Found on Floor (Patient fell out of bed)

FOS FPG FSE FSH FTA-ABS FTA FUBAR

FVC FWB FWD Fx

Full of Stool Fasting plasma glucose Fetal Scalp Electrode Follicle stimulating hormone Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition, originally used to refer to corpses after horrendous (typically battlefield) trauma, but "FUBAR" is now sometimes used to describe very ill patients with little hope of recovery, including those that have not necessarily suffered trauma. Not very politically correct! Forced Vital Capacity (Spirometry test value used in assessment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Full weight bearing Full ward diet Fracture of a bone

G
G G6PD GA GABA GCA GCS GDLH GERD GFR GGTP GH GHRF GITS GIFT GOA GOMER GOK GORD GOT GPT GSW GTN Gravida (total number of pregnancies, successful or not) Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase General anaesthesia gamma-aminobutyric acid Giant cell arteritis Glasgow Coma Scale Glutamate dehydrogenase Gastroesophageal reflux disease Glomerular filtration rate Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase Growth hormone Growth hormone releasing factor Gastrointestinal therapeutic system Gamete intrafallopian transfer Gone on Arrival (i.e., DOA) Get Outta My E.R. i.e. patient who frequently presents at the ER near death but manages to pull through each and every time. God only knows Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase glutamic-pyruvic transaminase gunshot wound see HVLT Glyceryl trinitrate

GU GUM GvH GvHD

Genitourinary Genitourinary medicine (often used more restrictively as alternative to sexually transmitted disease clinic) Graft-versus-host Graft-versus-host disease

H
HA HAD H/A H&E HAV Hb HBV HCC HCG HCM HCT HCTZ HCV HDL HDL-C HDU HDV HEENT HES HEV HGB HH H&H Hib HIV HL HLA H&M HOCM HONK H&P HPI HR Hypertonia arterialis HIV-associated dementia headache Hematoxlyn and Eosin standard tissue stain. Sometimes used as noun referring to stained slides--"H&E's showed..." Hepatitis A virus Hemoglobin Hepatitis B virus Hepato Cell Carcinoma Human chorionic gonadotropin Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Hematocrit Hydrochlorothiazide Hepatitis C virus High density lipoprotein High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol High Dependency Unit Hepatitis D virus Head Eyes Ears Nose Throat Hydroxyethyl Starch Hepatitis E virus Hemoglobin Hiatus hernia Hemoglobin and Hematocrit Haemophilus influenzae B Human immunodeficiency virus Hepatic lipase Human leukocyte antigens Hematemesis and Melena Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy Hyperosmolar Non Ketotic Coma History & Physical History of Present Illness Heart rate

HRT H.S. HSG HSV HT HTLV HTN HUS HVLT Hx

Hormone replacement therapy At bedtime, from Latin, hora somni Hysterosalpingogram Herpes simplex virus Hypertension Human T-lymphotropic virus Hypertension Hemolytic uremic syndrome High-velocity Lead Therapy, also see GSW (gunshot wound) history (of)

I
I131 IA IABP IAI IBD IBS IC ICD ICD-10 ICH ICP ICU I&D IDA IDC IDC IDDM IDL IFG Ig IGT IHD i.m. IMB IMI INF INR I&O IOL radioactive iodine Intra-arterial Intra-aortic balloon pump Intra-amniotic infection Inflammatory bowel disease Irritable bowel syndrome Intracardiac Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision Intracerebral hemorrhage Intracranial pressure Intensive care unit Incision and drainage (How to treat an abcess} Iron deficiency anemia Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy Indwelling catheter Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Intermediate density lipoprotein Impaired fasting glycaemia Immunoglobulin Impaired glucose tolerance Ischaemic heart disease intramuscular InterMenstrual Bleed (bleeding between periods) Intramuscular injection Interferon International normalized ratio inputs and outputs Induction of labor

IOL IOP IP IPPV IQ ISA ISDN ISH ISMN i.s.q. IT ITP ITU IUCD IU IUD IUD IUFD IUI IUS i.v. IV-DSA IVDU IVF IVP IVU

Intraocular lens Intraocular pressure Interphalangeal joint Intermittent positive pressure ventilation Intelligence Quotient Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity Isosorbide dinitrate Isolated systolic hypertension Isosorbide mononitrate no change (from Latin, in status quo) Intrathecal Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura Intensive Treatment Unit (or Intensive Therapy Unit) intrauterine contraceptive device International units Intrauterine Death - sometimes confused with intrauterine contraceptive device. Use FDIU or IUFD intrauterine device - sometimes confused with intrauterine death. We now use IUCD IntraUterine Foetal Demise Intrauterine insemination IntraUterine System Intravenous Intravenous digital subtraction angiography Intravenous drug user In vitro fertilization Intravenous pyelogram Intravenous urogram

J
JMS JVD "Junior Medical Student" AKA "MS-3" Also see "TOBASH" Jugular vein distension

K
K Kcal Potassium (in German, Kalium) Kilocalorie, Calorie

kg KIV KUB

Kilogram Keep in view kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray)

L
L LAD LAP LAR LAS LBBB LCM LDH LDL LDL-C L-DOPA LES LES LE leu LFT LGL LGM LGV LH LIH LLL LLQ LM LMP LOL LORTA LOS Lp LP LPL LUL LUQ LVEDP Leukocytes Left Anterior Descending coronary artery Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase Low Anterior Resection Lymphadenopathy syndrome Left bundle branch block Lymphocytic meningitis Lactate dehydrogenase Low density lipoprotein Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol DihydrOxyPhenylAlanine Lower esophageal sphincter Lupus erythematosus systemicus Lupus erythematosus (in German Lupus erythematodes) Leukocytes Liver function test Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome Lymphogranulomatosis maligna Lymphogranuloma venereum Luteinizing hormone left inguinal hernia left lower lobe left lower quadrant Left Main Last Menstrual period (prior to pregnancy and in woman with regular 28 day cycle taken as 0/40 weeks of pregnancy) Little old lady ... often LOL in NAD Loss Of Resistance To Air (in anesthesiology; when placing epidural, LORTA indicates entrance of needle to epidural space) Length of stay Lipoprotein Lumbar puncture Lipoprotein lipase Left upper lobe Left upper quadrant Left ventricular end diastolic pressure

LVEF LVF LVH LV LVOT Ly lytes

Left ventricular ejection fraction Left ventricular failure Left ventricular hypertrophy Left ventricle Left Ventricular Outflow Track Lymphocytes electrolytes

M
MAO-I M MARSA MAS MC MCP MCHC MCH MC&S MCV MDS Mg MgSO4 MGUS MI MIC MIC MLA MM mod MODY Mo MOM MOPP MPV MRA MRI MR MR Monoamine oxidase inhibitor Macrophage Methicillin and aminoglycoside resistant Staphylococcus aureus Morgani-Adams-Stokes Metacarpal bone Metacarpophalangeal joint Mean cell hemoglobin concentration Mean cell hemoglobin Microscopy, Culture & Sensitivity, the investigation steps in processing microbiology samples Mean cell volume Myelodysplastic syndrome Magnesium Magnesium or Magnesium Sulfate Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (unknown or uncertain may be substituted for undetermined) Myocardial infarction Morbus Ischaemicus Cordis Minimal inhibitory concentration Myelosis Leucemica Acuta Myeloma multiplex Moderate Maturity onset diabetes of the young Monocytes Milk of magnesia Mechlorethamine, Vincristine, Procarbazine, and Prednisone in combination, older treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma. Mean platelet volume Magnetic resonance angiogram or angiogrphy Magnetic resonance imaging Mitral regurgitation Modified release

MRSA MS MS MS MSH MSO4 MSU MT MTP MTX MVP MVPS

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Mitral stenosis Multiple sclerosis Medical student MS-1, MS-2, MS-3, MS-4 respectively Melanocyte stimulating hormone Morphine or Morphine Sulfate Mid Stream Urine sample (used in testing for presence of urine infections) Metatarsal bone Metatarsalphalangeal joint Methotrexate Mitral valve prolapse Mitral valve prolapse syndrome

N
Na NAD NAD NE Ne Neo NFR NGU NHL NIDDM NK NKA NKDA NMR NNH NNT NO NOF NOS Npl NPO NREM n.s. NSAID Sodium (in German Natrium) No Abnormality Detected, i.e. the absence of abnormal signs on examination No apparent distress. Norepinephrine Neutrophil granulocytes Neoplasm Not For Resuscitation Non-gonococcal urethritis Non Hodgkin Lymphoma Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Natural killer cells no known allergies no known drug allergies. This abbreviation is also used in the military of the United States and may be printed on dog tags or a uniform. Nuclear magnetic resonance Number needed to harm Number needed to treat Nitric oxide Neck of Femur Fracture (refers to Hip fracture) Nitric oxide synthase Neoplasm nil per os (nothing by mouth) non-Rapid Eye Movement not significant Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

NSCC NSE NSR NSRI NSU NTG N&V NVD NVD

Non Squamous Cell Carcinoma Neurospecific enolase normal sinus rhythm Noradrenaline-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Non-specific urethritis Nitroglycerin nausea & vomiting nausea, vomiting & diarrhea Normal Vaginal Delivery

O
O2 OA OB-GYN OCD OD OD od O/E OGTT om on OP OPPT OS OS OSA OSH OTC OTD OTPP OU Oxygen osteoarthritis Obstetrics and gynecology Obsessive-compulsive disorder right eye from Latin, oculus dexter overdose every day, usually regarded as once daily, from the Latin, omni die. Generally written in lower case. on examination Oral glucose tolerance test every morning, from the Latin, omni mane. Generally written in lower case. every night, from the Latin, omni nocte. Generally written in lower case. outpatient department Oriented to Person Place and Time left eye from Latin, oculus sinister Orthopedic surgery Obstructive Sleep Apnea outside hospital Over-the-counter drug Out the Door (discharged) Oriented to Time Place and Person Both eyes, from Latin, oculi uterque

P
p P P (p with a bar over it) after, from Latin, post Parturition (total number of live births) Phosphorus

P PA PA PAF PAF PAH PAI-1 PAO PAP Pap PAT p.c. PCL PCOS PCP PCP PCR PDA PDE PDT PE PE PEEP PEF PEFR PERLA PERRLA PET PFO PID PIH PIP PKA PKD PKU PLT PMB PMH PMN PMR PMR p.o.

Pulse posterior-anterior Pulmonary artery Platelet activating factor Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF) Pulmonary arterial hypertension Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 Peak Acid Output Papanicolaou stain Papanicolaou Test (pap smear) Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia After food, from Latin, post cibum Posterior cruciate ligament Polycystic ovarian syndrome Pneumocystis pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) Primary Care Physician/Primary Care Provider Polymerase chain reaction Patent ductus arteriosus Phosphodiesterase Photodynamic Therapy Pulmonary Embolism Pre-eclampsia Positive end expiratory pressure Peak expiratory flow Peak expiratory flow rate Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accommodation Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation Positron-emission tomography Patent foramen ovale Pelvic inflammatory disease Pregnancy induced hypertension Proximal interphalangeal joint Protein kinase A Polycystic kidney disease Phenylketonuria platelets Post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause) [past medical history] or Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils Percutaneous Myocardial Revascularisation Polymyalgia Rheumatica By mouth (orally), from Latin, per os

poly POX PPH PPH PPROM PPTL p.r. PRA PRIND prn PROM PRP PSA PSP PTM Pt. PTA PTCA PT PTH PTx PTT PUD PUVA p.v. PVD PVR PWP Px, px Px

Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils Peroxidase Post partum haemorrhage Primary Pulmonary hypertension Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes Post-Partum Tubal Ligation per rectum (as noun: rectal examination) Plasma renin activity Prolonged Reversible Ischemic Neurologic Deficit as necessary, from Latin, pro re nata (if used in chronic pain control disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") Premature Rupture of Membranes PanRetinal Photocoagulation Prostatic specific antigen Phenylsulphtalein Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patient, from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers" Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty Prothrombin time Parathyroid hormone Pneumothorax Partial thromboplastin time peptic ulcer disease Psoralen UV A per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection) peripheral vascular disease Pulmonary vascular resistance Pulmonary Wedge Pressure physical examination Prognosis

Q
q q.AM q.d. q.d.s. q.h. q.h.s. each, every, {from Latin, quaque} every AM, (from Latin, quaque ante meridiem) each day, {from Latin, quaque die} four times each day, {from Latin, quater die sumendus} each hour, {from Latin, quaque hora} every bedtime, {from Latin, quaque hora somni}

q.i.d. q.o.d. QALY

four times each day, {from Latin, quater in die} every other day, (from Latin, quaque altera die) Quality-adjusted life years

R
RA RA RAI RAPD RBBB RBC RCA RCT REM RF RFLP RFT Rh RhF RIA RIBA RIMA RIND RLQ RNA RNV ROM RR ROS RUQ RPR RSV RV RV RVF RVSP Rx Refractory anaemia Rheumatoid arthritis Radioactive Iodine Relative afferent pupillary defect Right bundle branch block Red blood cells Right coronary artery Randomized controlled trial Rapid eye movement Rheumatoid factor Restriction fragment length polymorphism Renal function test Rhesus factor Rheumatoid factor Radioimmune assay Radioimmunoblotting assay Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit Right lower quadrant Ribonucleic acid Radionuclear Ventriculography Range of motion Respiratory rate Review of systems Right upper quadrant Rapid Plasma Reagin test Respiratory Syncytial Virus Residual volume Right ventricle Right ventricular failure Right ventricular systolic pressure medical prescription or Prescription drug

S
s (s with a bar over it) without from Middle English sans, borrowed from

SAH SARS SBE SBP SBP s.c. SCC SCID SD SGA SGOT SGPT SH SHBG SHx SI SIADH SIDS SIMV SK SLE SM SMA SMA-7 SMS SMT SNP SNRI SOAP SOB SOBOE SOL SOS SP SPET SQ SR SROM SSRI SSSS

Old French sans Subarachnoid hemorrhage Severe acute respiratory syndrome Subacute bacterial endocarditis Systolic blood pressure spontaneous bacterial peritonitis subcutaneous from Latin, subcutis Squamous cell carciona Severe combined immunodeficiency Standard deviation Small for gestational age Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase Social history (personal habits, living situation, job) Sex Hormone Binding Globuline Surgical History International System of Units, Suicidal ideation Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Synchronized Intermittent Mechanical Ventilation Streptokinase Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Multiple sclerosis from Latin, Sclerosis multiplex Sequential Multiple Analysis Serum Metabolic Assay Senior medical student Spinal Manipulative Therapy Sodium Nitroprusside Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan (How Doctors notes are organized) Shortness of breath Dyspnoea Space Occupying Lesion Save Our Souls, meaning "in case of emergency" Status post Single photon emission tomography Subcutaneous Slow Release Spontaneous rupture of membranes Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

SSS STD STH STI STI STOP Subq SV SVD SVI SVN SVR SVT Sx SXA SXR

Sick Sinus Syndrome Sexually transmitted disease Somatotropic hormone Sexually transmitted infection Soft tissue injury Surgical Termination Of Pregnancy (sometimes Suction Termination of Pregnancy) Subcutaneous Seminal Vesicle Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery Systemic Viral Infection Small Volume Nebulizer Systemic vascular resistance Supraventricular tachycardia Surgery or Symptoms Single energy X-ray absorptiometer skull x-ray

T
T&A TAH TAH-BSO TB TBC TBC Td TdP TBI t.d.s. TEE or TOE TENS TERN TF T/F TFTs TGA TG Tg THR TIA TIBC tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy tuberculosis tuberculosis Total body crunch Tetanus and Diphtheria Torsades de pointes Total body irradiation Three times a day, from Latin, ter die sumendus Transesophageal echocardiogram Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulaton "Intern", also see TOBASH Transfer Transfer Thyroid function tests Transposition of the great arteries Triglycerides Thyroglobulin Total hip replacement Transient ischemic attack Total iron binding capacity

t.i.d. TIPS TKR TKVO TLC TMB TMS TNF TNM TOE TOP TPa TPN TR TRF TRF'd TRH TS TSH TT TTE TTO TTP TTS Tu TUR TURBT TURP Tx Tx

Three times a day, from Latin, ter in die transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt Total knee replacement to keep vein open Total lung capacity "Too Many Birthdays" Very frail elderly patient Tension myositis syndrome Tumor necrosis factor Tumor-Nodes-Metastases Transoesophageal echocardiogram Termination of Pregnancy Tissue plasminogen activator Total parenteral nutrition Tricuspid regurgitation Transfer (pronounced "turf") Transferred (Pronounced "turfed", as in "We just turfed Mrs Johnson OTD") Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone Tricuspid stenosis Thyroid Stimulating Hormone thrombin time Transthoracic echocardiogram To Take Out (medicines given to patient on discharge from hospital stay) Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura Transdermal therapeutic system Tumor Transurethral resection Transurethral resection of bladder tumour Transurethral resection of the prostate Transplant treatment

U
UBT U&E UC UD URI URTI Urea Breath Test urea and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) blood test, often including Ulcerative colitis As Directed, from Latin, Ut Dictum Upper Respiratory Infection Upper Respiratory Tract Infection creatinine

US USG USR USS UTI UVAL

Ultrasound Ultrasonography Unheated Serum Reagin Ultrasound scan Urinary Tract Infection Ultraviolet Argon Laser

V
VA VAD VAMP V-BAC VC vCJD VD VDRL VE VEB VRE VF VIP VLDL VMA VOD VPA VSD VT visual acuity vincristine adriblastine dexamethasone vincristine adriblastine methylprednisone Vaginal Birth After Caesarian Vital capacity Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Vaginal Delivery Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (old test for syphilis} vaginal examination (manual examination) Ventricular ectopic beat Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci Ventricular fibrillation Vasoactive intestinal peptide Very low density lipoprotein Vanillylmandelic acid Volume of distribution Valproic acid Ventricular septal defect Ventricular tachycardia

W
WAT WBC WDWN WNL WPW WWI White adipose tissue White blood cells Well developed, well Nourished Within Normal Limits (Also: We Never Looked) Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Walking While Intoxicated

X
x times/for

Y
YOYO "You're on your own"

Z
ZIFT Zygote intrafallopian transfer

Latin abbreviations
Some of the following list are considered non-standardized abbreviations because their meanings could be easily misunderstood. Abbrev. Meaning a.c. Before food a.d. Right ear Freely as ad. wanted a.l. alt. die alt. h. a.m. a.n. aq. a.s. Left ear Latin origin ante cibum auris dexter ad libitum aurix laevus

a.u. aurist. b.d. or Twice a day bis die bd b.i.d. or Twice a day bis in die bid gtt. Drop gutta

Every other alternus die day Every other alternus hour horis ante Morning meridiem Before the ante night noctum Water aqua auris Left ear sinister Each ear auris utro Ear drops auristillae

h. h.s. i.d. i.d. I.D. i.d. mane narist. Nocte o.c. o.d. or od o.d. o.l. o.m. o.n. o.s. o.u. p.c. p.m. p.o. or po p.r. p.r.n. p.v. q. q.2.h. q.4.h.

Hour At bedtime during the day the same Infectious Disease intradermal, between layers of the skin In the morning Nasal drops At night Eye ointment Daily Right eye Left eye In the morning At night Left eye Each eye After food Afternoon Orally

hora hora somni

idem

mane naristillae nocte oculentum omni die oculus dexter oculus laevus omni mane omni nocte oculus sinister oculus utro post cibum post meridiem per os

Rectally per rectum As occasion requires (as pro re nata needed) per Vaginally vaginum every quaque Every two quaque 2 hours hora Every four quaque 4 hours hora

q.6.h. q.8.h. q.d. or qd q.d.s.

Every six hours Every eight hours Every day

quaque 6 hora quaque 8 hora quaque die quater die sumendus quaque hora quater in die quarta quaque hora quantum sufficiat

Four times a day Every hour, q.h. hourly q.i.d. or Four times a qid day q.q.h. q.s. Every four hours A sufficient quantity

s.i.d. or Once a day semel in die sid Sig. or Write on the signa S. label Sublingual, sub SL. under the linguam tongue Immediately, Stat. statim with no delay Three times a ter die t.d.s. day sumendus t.i.d. or Three times a ter in die tid day Topically, top. applied to the skin ut dict. As directed ut dictum or u.d. ung. Ointment unguentum