abbreviations

@

at

A & P

anatomy and physiology or anterior and posterior

ab

abortion or away

abd

abdominal

ABG

arterial blood gas

a.c.

before meals

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

AD

right ear

ADL

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

adm

admission

afeb

afebrile, no fever

AFB

acid-fast bacillus

AKA

above the knee (amputation)

alb

albumin, protein

am

morning

AMA

against medical advice

amal

amalgam, filling of tooth cavity

amb

ambulate, walk

AMI

acute myocardial infarction, heart attack

amt

amount

ANS

autonomic nervous system

ant

anterior

AOx3

alert and orient to Person Time and Place

Ap

apical

approx

approximate

aq

aqueous

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

AS

left ear

ASA

aspirin

asap

as soon as possible

as tol

as tolerated

AU

both ears

Ax

axillary

BE

barium enema

bid

twice a day

bil, bilateral

both sides

BK

below the knee

BKA

below the knee, amputation

bl

blood

bl wk

blood work

BLS

basic life support

BM

bowel movement

BOW

bags of water, amniotic sacs

B/P

blood pressure

bpm

beats per minute

BR

bed rest

BPR

bathroom privileges

BS

breath or bowel sounds

BSO

bilateral salpingo oophorectomy

BUN

blood urea nitrogen levels

BVM

bag valve mask

bx

biopsy

c-

with

C&S

culture and sensitivity

c-spine

cervical spine

CAD

coronary artery disease

cal

calories, heat

cath

catheter, tube

CBC

complete blood count, red and white blood cells

cc

cubic centimeters, millimeters

CCU

chronic care unit, cardiac care unit

CHF

congestive heart failure

CHO

carbohydrates

chol

cholesterol

circ

circumcision, done by obstetricians

cl liq

clear liquid

CNS

central nervous system

c/o

complains of

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPK

creatine phosphokinase (cardiac enzyme)

-cpk-md: measures the level of a specific enzyme found primarily in heart muscle, used to detect damage from heart attacks

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPT

chest physical therapy: make it easier to cough up excess mucus from your lungs, done for cystic fibrosis

CS

central supply

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid: found in the spine, brain, and the three coverings of the meninges

high in glucose

CT

computerized/computer tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

cx

cervix or complaint of

CXR

chest x-ray

cysto

cystography

d/c

discontinue

D & C

dilation and curettage

DAT

diet as tolerated

DC

discontinue or discharge

del

delivery

diff

differential

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

dead on arrival

DOB

date of birth

DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

DRG

diagnosis-related grouping

D/S

dextrose in saline

DT's

delirium tremens

DW

distilled water

DSW 5%

dextrose in water 5%

Dx

diagnosis

EBL

estimated blood loss

ECG

electrocardiogram

ED

emergency department