Common Abbreviations

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

AB

abortion

ABD

abdominal

ABG

arterial blood gas

ABX

antibiotics

AC

before meals

ACS

acute coronary syndrome

A-Fib

atrial fibrillation

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

A/O x4

alert and oriented x 4 (person, place, time, and event)

ALOC

altered level of consciousness

ALS

advanced life support

AKA

above the knee amputation

AMA

against medical advice

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

AMS

altered mental status

AOM

acute otitis media

AP

anterior-posterior

ASA

aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

AV

atrioventricular (block)

BAL

blood alcohol level

BID

2 times a day

Bilat

bilateral

BKA

below the knee amputation

BLE

bilateral lower extremities

BLS

basic life support

BM

bowel movement

BOM

bilateral otitis media

BP

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy

BPM

beats per minute

BPV

benign positional vertigo

BS

bowel sounds breath sounds

BSA

body surface area

BUE

bilateral upper extremities

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

BVM

Bag-valve mask

c

with

CA

cancer

C1-C7

1-7 cervical vertebrae

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

CBC

complete blood count

c/c

chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit

CHF

congestive heart failure

CK

creatine kinase

CMT

cervical motion tenderness

CN

cranial nerve

CN-II-XII

cranial nerves 2-12

CNS

central nervous system

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP

chest pain or cerebral palsy

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

C/S

cesarean section

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computed tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or costovertebral

angle

CVAT

costovertebral angle tenderness

CXR

chest x-ray

DBP

diastolic blood pressure

D/C

discontinue

D&C

dilation and curettage

DC

discharge

DDX

differential diagnosis

DKA

diabetic ketoacidosis

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNI

do not intubate

DNR

do not resuscitate

DO

doctor of osteopathic medicine

DOA

dead on arrival

DOB

date of birth

DT's

delirium tremens

DTR

deep tendon reflex

DVT

deep venous thrombosis

DDx

differential diagnosis

Dx

diagnosis

ED

emergency department

EENT

eyes, ears, nose, throat

EKG/ECG

electrocardiograph

EMT

emergency medical technician

ETOH

alcohol

ETT

endotracheal tube

FB

foreign body

FHT

fetal heart tones

FROM

full range of motion

F/U

follow up

Fx

fracture

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale

GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

G_P_A_

gravida, para, abortus

GU

genitourinary

GI

gastrointestinal

GIB

gastrointestinal bleeding

GSW

gun shot wound

HA

headache

hCG

human chorionic gonadotropin

HCT

hematocrit