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 thousandfold 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
| Ba | Barium |
| BAL | Bronchoalveolar lavage |
| BAL | British anti-Lewisite |
| BAL | Blood Alcohol Level |
| BAO | Basic acid output |
| BAT | Brown adipose tissue |
| BCG | Bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis vaccination) |
| BCX | Blood culture |
| BBMF | "Bone break, me fix" Orthopedic consent form |
| b.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis die |
| b.i.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis in die |
| BE | Base excess |
| BIBA | brought in by ambulance |
| BK | Bacterium Koch |
| bl.cult | Blood culture |
| bld | Blood |
| BLS | Basic Life Support |
| BMC | Bone mass content |
| BMD | Bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement) |
| BMI | Body mass index |
| BMP | Blood Metabolic Profile |
| BMR | Basal metabolic rate |
| BMT | Bone marrow transplantation |
| BNF | British National Formulary |
| BNP | Brain natriuretic peptide |
| BOI | Born on island, ie. a local patient. |
| BOOP | Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia |
| BP | Blood pressure |
| BP | Bipolar disorder |
| BPD | Bi-Parietal Diameter |
| BPD | Borderline personality disorder |
| BPH | Benign prostatic hyperplasia |
| BPM | Beats per minute |
| BPPV | Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo |
| BRAT | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast: acronym for bland diet |
| BRATY | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast, Yogurt: acronym for bland diet for children |
| BRP | Bathroom Privileges |
| BRBPR | Bright red blood per rectum |
| BS | Breath or Bowel sounds on auscultation with stethoscope |
| BSE | Bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
| BSE | Breast self-examination |
| BSP | Bromsulphthalein |
| BUN | Blood urea nitrogen |
| BV | Bacterial vaginosis |
| Bx | Biopsy |
[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 |
| DJD | Degenerative Joint Disease |
| DKA | Diabetic Keto Acidosis |
| 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") |
| FNA | Fine Needle Aspirate |
| 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 |
| FUBAR | 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! |
| 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 |
| HCTZ | 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 |
| od | every day, usually regarded as once daily, from the Latin, omni die. Generally written in lower case. |
| O/E | on examination |
| OGTT | Oral glucose tolerance test |
| om | every morning, from the Latin, omni mane. Generally written in lower case. |
| on | every night, from the Latin, omni nocte. Generally written in lower case. |
| 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) |
| OU | Both eyes, from Latin, oculi uterque |
[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 pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) |
| 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 |
| PKD | Polycystic kidney disease |
| 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 | (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 or Symptoms |
| 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. or bd | Twice a day | bis die |
| b.i.d. or bid | 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. or od | 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. or po | 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. or qd | Every day | quaque die |
| q.d.s. | Four times a day | quater die sumendus |
| q.h. | Every hour, hourly | quaque hora |
| q.i.d. or qid | 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. or sid | 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. or tid | 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
- Medical dictionary
