List of medical abbreviations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of medical acronyms and abbreviations.
The US based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires its members to follow a "do not use list":[1]
| Do Not Use | Potential Problem | Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Official "Do Not Use" List: | ||
| U (unit) | Mistaken for “0” (zero), the number “4” (four) or “cc” | "unit" |
| IU (International Unit) | Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10 (ten) | "International Unit" |
| Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily) Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day) |
Mistaken for each other. Period after the Q mistaken for "I" and the "O" mistaken for "I" (q.i.d. is four times a day dosing) |
"daily" "every other day" |
| Trailing zero (X.0 mg) Lack of leading zero (.X mg) |
Decimal point is missed | X mg 0.X mg |
| MS | Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate | "morphine sulfate" |
| MSO4 and MgSO4 | Confused for one another | "magnesium sulfate" |
| For possible future inclusion in the Official List: | ||
| > (greater than) < (less than) |
Misinterpreted as the number "7" (seven) or the letter "L". Confused for one another |
"greater than" "less than" |
| Abbreviations for drug names | Misinterpreted due to similar abbreviations for multiple drugs | Write drug names in full |
| Apothecary units | Unfamiliar to many practitioners. Confused with metric units | metric units |
| @ | Mistaken for the number "2" (two) | "at" |
| cc | Mistaken for U (units) when poorly written | "mL" or "milliliters" |
| µg | Mistaken for mg (milligrams) resulting in one thousand-fold overdose | "mcg" or "micrograms" |
Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
[edit] 0–9
| Abbrv. | Meaning |
| Δ | Diagnosis |
| ΔΔ | Differential diagnosis, i.e. the list of possible diagnoses |
| # | Fracture |
| #NOF | Fracture to the neck of the femur |
| Ψ | Psychiatry |
| Σ | Sigmoidoscopy |
| x/12 | x number of months |
| x/40 | x number of weeks of pregnancy |
| x/52 | x number of weeks |
| x/7 | x number of days |
| 5-HT | Serotonin, 5-Hydroxytryptamine |
[edit] A
[edit] B
[edit] C
[edit] D
| DA | Dopamine |
| DBP | Diastolic blood pressure |
| D&C | Dilatation and curettage |
| DCM | Dilated cardiomyopathy |
| DDD | Daily Defined Doses |
| DDx | Differential diagnosis |
| DEXA | Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry |
| DHE | Dihydoergotamine |
| DHEA-S | Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate |
| DIB | Dead in Bed |
| DIC | Disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| DIP | Distal interphalangeal joint |
| DiPerTe | Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus |
| DiTe | Diphtheria Tetanus |
| DPT | Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus |
| DM | Diabetes Mellitus |
| DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid |
| DNI | Do Not Intubate |
| DNR | Do Not Resuscitate |
| DNAR | Do Not Attempt Resusciatation |
| DOA | Dead on arrival |
| DOE | Dyspnea on exertion |
| DOSS | Docusate sodium; from the chemical name dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate |
| DT | Diphtheria Tetanus |
| DTP | Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis |
| DUB | Dysfunctional uterine bleeding |
| DVT | Deep vein thrombosis |
| Dx | Diagnosis |
[edit] E
| E | Erythrocytes |
| EACA | Epsilon-aminocaproic acid |
| EBM | Evidence-based medicine |
| EBM | Expressed Breast Milk |
| EC | Enterically Coated |
| ECG | Electrocardiogram |
| ED | Emergency department |
| ED | Erectile Dysfunction |
| ED | Ectodermal dysplasia |
| EDC | Estimated Date of Confinement (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy) |
| EDD | Estimated Date of Delivery (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy) |
| EDD | Estimated date of discharge |
| EDRF | Endothelium-derived relaxing factor aka Nitric oxide |
| EEG | Electroencephalogram |
| EF | Ejection Fraction |
| EGF | Epidermal Growth Factor |
| EKG | Electrocardiogram |
| EMLSCS | Emergency Lower Segment Caesarian Section |
| ELLSCS | Elective Lower Segment Caesarian Section |
| ELISA | Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay |
| EMC | Encephalomyocarditis |
| EMD | Early Morning Discovery |
| EMD | ElectroMechanical Dissociation |
| EMF | Endomyocardial fibrosis |
| EMG | Electromyography |
| EMU | Early Morning Urine sample (being the most concentrated generally used for pregnancy testing) |
| ENT | Ear Nose and Throat. (Otolaryngology) |
| EENT | eyes, ears, nose, throat |
| EPH | Edema Proteinuria Hypertension |
| EPO | Erythropoietin |
| ERCP | Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography |
| ESL | Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (also ESWL) - see lithotriptor |
| ESBL | Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase gram negative bacteria |
| ESR | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
| ESRD | End-stage renal disease |
| ESWL | Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (also ESL) - see lithotriptor |
| ET | Endothelin |
| ETT | Endotracheal tube |
| ETOH | ethanol or ethyl alcohol |
| EUS | Endoscopic Ultrasonography |
[edit] F
| FBC | Full blood count |
| FBE | Full blood exam |
| FBG | Fasting blood glucose |
| F/C | Fevers or Chills |
| FDP | Fibrinogen Degradation Products |
| FEV1 | Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second |
| Fe | Iron |
| FF | Free Fluids (non-thickened fluids) |
| FFA | Free fatty acids |
| FFP | Fresh frozen plasma |
| FHR | Fetal heart rate |
| FHT | Fetal heart tones |
| FHx | Family History |
| FIBD | Found in Bed Dead |
| FLK | Funny Looking Kid (suggesting an unspecified syndrome, should now be termed "dysmorphic features") |
| FNC | Full nursing care |
| FOF | Found on Floor (Patient fell out of bed) |
| FPG | Fasting plasma glucose |
| FSE | Fetal Scalp Electrode |
| FSH | Follicle stimulating hormone |
| FTA-ABS | Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption |
| FTA | Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody |
| FVC | Forced Vital Capacity (Spirometry test value used in assessment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) |
| FWB | Full weight bearing |
| FWD | Full ward diet |
| Fx | Fracture of a bone |
[edit] G
| G | Gravida (total number of pregnancies, successful or not) |
| G6PD | Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase |
| GA | General anaesthesia |
| GABA | gamma-aminobutyric acid |
| GCA | Giant cell arteritis |
| GCS | Glasgow Coma Scale |
| GDLH | Glutamate dehydrogenase |
| GERD | Gastro-esophageal reflux disease |
| GFR | Glomerular filtration rate |
| GGTP | Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase |
| GH | Growth hormone |
| GHRF | Growth hormone releasing factor |
| GITS | Gastrointestinal therapeutic system |
| GIFT | Gamete intrafallopian transfer |
| GOA | Gone on Arrival (i.e., DOA) |
| GOMER | 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. |
| GOK | God only knows |
| GORD | Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease |
| GOT | glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase |
| GPT | glutamic-pyruvic transaminase |
| GSW | gunshot wound see HVLT |
| GTN | Glyceryl trinitrate |
| GU | Genitourinary |
| GUM | Genitourinary medicine (often used more restrictively as alternative to Sexually-transmitted disease clinic) |
| GvH | Graft-versus-host |
| GvHD | Graft-versus-host disease |
[edit] H
| HA | Hypertonia arterialis |
| HAD | HIV-associated dementia |
| H/A | headache |
| H&E | Hematoxlyn and Eosin Standard tissue stain. Sometimes used as noun referring to stained slides--"H&E's showed..." |
| HAV | Hepatitis A virus |
| Hb | Hemoglobin |
| HBV | Hepatitis B virus |
| HCG | Human chorionic gonadotropin |
| HCM | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
| HCT | Hematocrit |
| HCT | Hydrochlorothiazide |
| HCV | Hepatitis C virus |
| HDL | High density lipoprotein |
| HDL-C | High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol |
| HDU | High dependency unit |
| HDV | Hepatitis D virus |
| HEENT | Head Eyes Ears Nose Throat |
| HEV | Hepatitis E virus |
| HGB | Hemoglobin |
| HH | Hiatus hernia |
| H&H | Hemoglobin and Hematocrit |
| Hib | Haemophilus influenzae B |
| HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus |
| HL | Hepatic lipase |
| HLA | Human leukocyte antigens |
| H&M | Hematemesis and Malena |
| HOCM | Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy |
| H&P | History & Physical |
| HPI | History of Present Illness |
| HR | Heart rate |
| HRT | Hormone replacement therapy |
| H.S. | At bedtime, from [[Latin], hora somni |
| HSG | Hysterosalpingogram |
| HSV | Herpes simplex virus |
| HT | Hypertension |
| HTLV | Human T-lymphotropic virus |
| HTN | Hypertension |
| HUS | Hemolytic uremic syndrome |
| HVLT | High-velocity Lead Therapy, also see GSW (gunshot wound) |
| Hx | history (of) |
[edit] I
[edit] J
| JMS | "Junior Medical Student" AKA "MS-3" Also see "TOBASH" |
| JVD | Jugular vein distension |
[edit] K
| K | Potassium (in German, Kalium) |
| Kcal | Kilocalorie, Calorie |
| kg | Kilogram |
| KUB | kidney, ureter, bladder (x-ray) |
[edit] L
| L | Leukocytes |
| LAD | Left Anterior Descending coronary artery |
| LAP | Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase |
| LAR | Low Anterior Resection |
| LAS | Lymphadenopathy syndrome |
| LBBB | Left bundle branch block |
| LCM | Lymphocytic meningitis |
| LDH | Lactate dehydrogenase |
| LDL | Low density lipoprotein |
| LDL-C | Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol |
| L-DOPA | DihydrOxyPhenylAlanine |
| LES | Lower esophageal sphincter |
| LES | Lupus erythematosus systemicus |
| LE | Lupus erythematosus (in German Lupus erythematodes) |
| leu | Leukocytes |
| LFT | Liver function test |
| LGL | Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome |
| LGM | Lymphogranulomatosis maligna |
| LGV | Lymphogranuloma venereum |
| LH | Luteinizing hormone |
| LIH | left inguinal hernia |
| LLL | left lower lobe |
| LLQ | left lower quadrant |
| LM | Left Main |
| LMP | Last Menstrual period (prior to pregnancy and in woman with regular 28 day cycle taken as 0/40 weeks of pregnancy) |
| LORTA | Loss Of Resistance To Air (in anesthesiology; when placing epidural, LORTA indicates entrance of needle to epidural space) |
| LOS | Length of stay |
| Lp | Lipoprotein |
| LP | Lumbar puncture |
| LPL | Lipoprotein lipase |
| LUL | Left upper lobe |
| LUQ | Left upper quadrant |
| LVEDP | Left ventricular end diastolic pressure |
| LVEF | Left ventricular ejection fraction |
| LVF | Left ventricular failure |
| LVH | Left ventricular hypertrophy |
| LV | Left ventricle |
| LVOT | Left Ventricular Outflow Track |
| Ly | Lymphocytes |
| lytes | electrolytes |
[edit] M
| MAO-I | Monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
| MARSA | Methicillin and aminoglycoside resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
| MAS | Morgani-Adams-Stokes |
| MC | Metacarpal bone |
| MCP | Metacarpophalangeal joint |
| MCHC | Mean cell hemoglobin concentration |
| MCH | Mean cell hemoglobin |
| MC&S | Microscopy, Culture & Sensitivity, the investigation steps in processing microbiology samples |
| MCV | Mean cell volume |
| MDS | Myelodysplastic syndrome |
| Mg | Magnesium |
| MgSO4 | Magnesium or Magnesium Sulfate |
| MGUS | Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (unknown or uncertain may be substituted for undetermined) |
| MI | Myocardial infarction |
| MIC | Morbus Ischaemicus Cordis |
| MIC | Minimal inhibitory concentration |
| MLA | Myelosis Leucemica Acuta |
| MM | Myeloma multiplex |
| mod | Moderate |
| MODY | Maturity onset diabetes of the young |
| Mo | Monocytes |
| MOM | Milk of magnesia |
| MOPP | Mechlorethamine, Vincristine, Procarbazine, and Prednisone in combination, older treatment for Hodgkins lymphoma. |
| MPV | Mean platelet volume |
| MRA | Magnetic resonance angiogram or angiogrphy |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
| MR | Mitral regurgitation |
| MR | Modified release |
| MRSA | Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
| MS | Mitral stenosis |
| MS | Multiple sclerosis |
| MS | Medical student MS-1, MS-2, MS-3, MS-4 respectively |
| MSH | Melanocyte stimulating hormone |
| MSO4 | Morphine or Morphine Sulfate |
| MSU | Mid Stream Urine sample (used in testing for preence of urine infections) |
| MT | Metatarsal bone |
| MTP | Metatarsalphalangeal joint |
| MTX | Methotrexate |
| MVP | Mitral valve prolapse |
| MVPS | Mitral valve prolapse syndrome |
[edit] N
| Na | Sodium (in German Natrium) |
| NAD | No Abnormality Detected, i.e. the absence of abnormal signs on examination |
| NAD | No apparent distress. |
| NE | Norepinephrine |
| Ne | Neutrophil granulocytes |
| Neo | Neoplasm |
| NGU | Non-gonococcal urethritis |
| NHL | Non Hodgkin Lymphoma |
| NIDDM | Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus |
| NK | Natural killer cells |
| NKA | no known allergies |
| NKDA | 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. |
| NMR | Nuclear magnetic resonance |
| NNH | Number needed to harm |
| NNT | Number needed to treat |
| NO | Nitric oxide |
| NOF | Neck of Femur Fracture (refers to Hip fracture) |
| NOS | Nitric oxide synthase |
| Npl | Neoplasm |
| NPO | nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
| NREM | non-Rapid Eye Movement |
| n.s. | not significant |
| NSAID | Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug |
| NSE | Neurospecific enolase |
| NSR | normal sinus rhythm |
| NSU | Non-specific urethritis |
| NTG | Nitroglycerin |
| N&V | nausea & vomiting |
| NVD | nausea, vomiting & diarrhea |
| NVD | Normal Vaginal Delivery |
[edit] O
| O2 | Oxygen |
| OA | osteoarthritis |
| OB-GYN | Obstetrics and gynecology |
| OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| OD | right eye from Latin, oculus dexter |
| OD | overdose |
| O/E | on examination |
| OGTT | Oral glucose tolerance test |
| OP | outpatient department |
| OS | left eye from Latin, oculus sinister |
| OS | Orthopedic surgery |
| OSA | Obstructive Sleep Apnea |
| OSH | outside hospital |
| OTC | Over the counter |
| OTD | Out the Door (discharged) |
[edit] P
| P | Parturition (total number of live births) |
| P | Phosphorus |
| P | Pulse |
| PA | posterior-anterior |
| PA | Pulmonary artery |
| PAF | Platelet activating factor |
| PAF | Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermitant AF) |
| PAH | Pulmonary arterial hypertension |
| PAI-1 | Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 |
| PAO | Peak Acid Output |
| PAP | Papanicolaou stain |
| Pap | Papanicolaou Test (pap smear) |
| PAT | Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia |
| p.c. | After food, from Latin, post cibum |
| PCOS | Polycystic ovarian syndrome |
| PCP | Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii) |
| PCP | Primary Care Physician/Primary Care Provider |
| PCR | Polymerase chain reaction |
| PDA | Patent ductus arteriosus |
| PDE | Phosphodiesterase |
| PDT | Photodynamic Therapy |
| PEEP | Positive end expiratory pressure |
| PEF | Peak expiratory flow |
| PEFR | Peak expiratory flow rate |
| PERLA | Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accommodation |
| PET | Positron-emission tomography |
| PFO | Patent foramen ovale |
| PID | Pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PIH | Pregnancy induced hypertension |
| PIP | Proximal interphalangeal joint |
| PKA | Protein kinase A |
| PKU | Phenylketonuria |
| PLT | platelets |
| PMB | Post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause) |
| PMH | [past medical history] or Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage |
| PMR | Percutaneous Myocardial Revascularisation |
| PMR | Polymyalgia Rheumatica |
| p.o. | By mouth (orally), from Latin, per os |
| POX | Peroxidase |
| PPH | Post partum haemorrhage |
| PPTL | Post-Partum Tubal Ligation |
| p.r. | per rectum (as noun: rectal examination) |
| PRA | Plasma renin activity |
| PRIND | Prolonged Reversible Ischemic Neurologic Deficit |
| prn | as necessary, from Latin, pro re nata (if used in chronic pain control disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") |
| PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes |
| PRP | PanRetinal Photocoagulation |
| PSA | Prostatic specific antigen |
| PSP | Phenylsulphtalein |
| PTM | Pulmonary Tuberculosis |
| Pt. | Patient, from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers" |
| PTA | Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty |
| PTCA | Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
| PT | Prothrombin time |
| PTH | Parathyroid hormone |
| PTx | Pneumothorax |
| PTT | Partial thromboplastin time |
| PUD | peptic ulcer disease |
| PUVA | Psoralen UV A |
| p.v. | per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection) |
| PVD | peripheral vascular disease |
| PVR | Pulmonary vascular resistance |
| PWP | Pulmonary Wedge Pressure |
| Px, px | physical examination |
| Px | Prognosis |
[edit] Q
| q | each, every, {from Latin, quaque} |
| q.AM | every AM, (from Latin, quaque ante meridiem) |
| q.d. | each day, {from Latin, quaque die} |
| q.d.s. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater die sumendus} |
| q.h. | each hour, {from Latin, quaque hora} |
| q.i.d. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater in die} |
| q.o.d. | every other day, (from Latin, quaque altera die) |
[edit] R
| RA | Refractory anaemia |
| RA | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| RAI | Radioactive Iodine |
| RAPD | Relative afferent pupillary defect |
| RBBB | Right bundle branch block |
| RBC | Red blood cells |
| RCA | Right coronary artery |
| RCT | Randomized controlled trial |
| REM | Rapid eye movement |
| RF | Rheumatoid factor |
| RFLP | Restriction fragment length polymorphism |
| RFT | Renal function test |
| Rh | Rhesus factor |
| RhF | Rheumatoid factor |
| RIA | Radioimmune assay |
| RIBA | Radioimmunoblotting assay |
| RIND | Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit |
| RLQ | Right lower quadrant |
| RNA | Ribonucleic acid |
| RNV | Radionuclear Ventriculography |
| ROM | Range of motion |
| RR | Respiratory rate |
| ROS | Review of systems |
| RUQ | Right upper quadrant |
| RPR | Rapid Plasma Reagin test |
| RSV | Respiratory Syncytial Virus |
| RV | Residual volume |
| RV | Right ventricle |
| RVF | Right ventricular failure |
| RVSP | Right ventricular systolic pressure |
| Rx | medical prescription or Prescription drug |
[edit] S
| s | (with a bar over it) without from Middle English sans, borrowed from Old French sans |
| SAH | Subarachnoid hemorrhage |
| SARS | Severe acute respiratory syndrome |
| SBE | Subacute bacterial endocarditis |
| SBP | Systolic blood pressure |
| SBP | spontaneous bacterial peritonitis |
| s.c. | subcutaneous from Latin, subcutis |
| SCC | Squamous cell carciona |
| SCID | Severe combined immunodeficiency |
| SD | Standard deviation |
| SGA | Small for gestational age |
| SGOT | Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase |
| SGPT | Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase |
| SH | Social history (personal habits, living situation, job) |
| SHBG | Sex Hormone Binding Globuline |
| SHx | Surgical History |
| SI | International System of Units |
| SIADH | Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone |
| SIDS | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome |
| SIMV | Synchronized Intermittent Mechanical Ventilation |
| SK | Streptokinase |
| SLE | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus |
| SM | Multiple sclerosis from Latin, Sclerosis multiplex |
| SMA | Sequential Multiple Analysis |
| SMA-7 | Serum Metabolic Assay |
| SMS | Senior medical student |
| SNP | Sodium Nitroprusside |
| SOAP | Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan (How Doctors notes are organized) |
| SOB | Shortness of breath |
| SOS | Save Our Souls, meaning "in case of emergency" |
| SP | Status post |
| SPET | Single photon emission tomography |
| SQ | Subcutaneous |
| SR | Slow Release |
| SROM | Spontaneous rupture of membranes |
| SSRI | Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
| SSSS | Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome |
| SSS | Sick Sinus Syndrome |
| STD | Sexually transmitted disease |
| STH | Somatotropic hormone |
| STI | Sexually transmitted infection |
| Subq | Subcutaneous |
| SVD | Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery |
| SVI | Systemic Viral Infection |
| SVN | Small Volume Nebulizer |
| SVR | Systemic vascular resistance |
| SVT | Supraventricular tachycardia |
| Sx | Surgery |
| SXA | Single energy X-ray absorptiometer |
| SXR | skull x-ray |
[edit] T
[edit] U
| UBT | Urea Breath Test | |
| U & E | urea and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) blood test, often including | creatinine |
| UC | Ulcerative colitis | |
| UD | As Directed, from Latin, Ut Dictum | |
| URI | Upper Respiratory Infection | |
| URTI | Upper Respiratory Tract Infection | |
| US | Ultrasound | |
| USG | Ultrasonography | |
| USR | Unheated Serum Reagin | |
| USS | Ultrasound scan | |
| UTI | Urinary Tract Infection | |
| UVAL | Ultraviolet Argon Laser |
[edit] V
| VA | visual acuity |
| VAD | vincristine adriblastine dexamethasone |
| VAMP | vincristine adriblastine methylprednisone |
| V-BAC | Vaginal Birth After Caesarian |
| VC | Vital capacity |
| vCJD | Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease |
| VD | Vaginal Delivery |
| VDRL | Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (old test for syphilis} |
| VE | vaginal examination (manual examination) |
| VEB | Ventricular ectopic beat |
| VRE | Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci |
| VF | Ventricular fibrillation |
| VIP | Vasoactive intestinal peptide |
| VLDL | Very low density lipoprotein |
| VMA | Vanillylmandelic acid |
| VOD | Volume of distribution |
| VPA | Valproic acid |
| VSD | Ventricular septal defect |
| VT | Ventricular tachycardia |
[edit] W
| WAT | White adipose tissue |
| WBC | White blood cells |
| WDWN | Well developed, well Nourished |
| WNL | Within Normal Limits (Also: We Never Looked) |
| WPW | Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome |
| WWI | Walking While Intoxicated |
[edit] X
| x | times/for |
[edit] Y
| YOYO | "You're on your own" |
[edit] Z
| ZIFT | Zygote intrafallopian transfer |
[edit] Latin abbreviations
Some of the following list are considered non-standardized abbreviations because their meanings could be easily misunderstood.
| Abbrev. | Meaning | Latin origin |
| a.c. | Before food | ante cibum |
| a.d. | Right ear | auris dexter |
| ad. | Freely as wanted | ad libitum |
| a.l. | Left ear | aurix laevus |
| alt. die | Every other day | alternus die |
| alt. h. | Every other hour | alternus horis |
| a.m. | Morning | ante meridiem |
| a.n. | Before the night | ante noctum |
| aq. | Water | aqua |
| a.s. | Left ear | auris sinister |
| a.u. | Each ear | auris utro |
| aurist. | Ear drops | auristillae |
| b.d. | Twice a day | bis die |
| b.i.d. | Twice a day | bis in die |
| gtt. | Drop | gutta |
| h. | Hour | hora |
| h.s. | At bedtime | hora somni |
| i.d. | during the day | |
| i.d. | the same | idem |
| I.D. | Infectious Disease | |
| i.d. | intradermal, between layers of the skin | |
| mane | In the morning | mane |
| narist. | Nasal drops | naristillae |
| Nocte | At night | nocte |
| o.c. | Eye ointment | oculentum |
| o.d. | Daily | omni die |
| o.d. | Right eye | oculus dexter |
| o.l. | Left eye | oculus laevus |
| o.m. | In the morning | omni mane |
| o.n. | At night | omni nocte |
| o.s. | Left eye | oculus sinister |
| o.u. | Each eye | oculus utro |
| p.c. | After food | post cibum |
| p.m. | Afternoon | post meridiem |
| p.o. | Orally | per os |
| p.r. | Rectally | per rectum |
| p.r.n. | As occasion requires (as needed) | pro re nata |
| p.v. | Vaginally | per vaginum |
| q. | every | quaque |
| q.2.h. | Every two hours | quaque 2 hora |
| q.4.h. | Every four hours | quaque 4 hora |
| q.6.h. | Every six hours | quaque 6 hora |
| q.8.h. | Every eight hours | quaque 8 hora |
| q.d. | Every day | quaque die |
| q.d.s. | Four times a day | quater die sumendus |
| q.h. | Every hour, hourly | quaque hora |
| q.i.d. | Four times a day | quater in die |
| q.q.h. | Every four hours | quarta quaque hora |
| q.s. | A sufficient quantity | quantum sufficiat |
| s.i.d. | Once a day | semel in die |
| Sig. or S. | Write on the label | signa |
| SL. | Sublingual, under the tongue | sub linguam |
| Stat. | Immediately, with no delay | statim |
| t.d.s. | Three times a day | ter die sumendus |
| t.i.d. | Three times a day | ter in die |
| top. | Topically, applied to the skin | |
| ut dict. or u.d. | As directed | ut dictum |
| ung. | Ointment | unguentum |
[edit] See also
- Acronym
- List of abbreviations for medical organisations and personnel
- Medical Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms
