Medical Abbreviations

_

a

before

A&D

admission and discharge

A&P

anterior and posterior; anatomy and physiology

__

aa

of each

Ab

abortion

abd

abdomen; abdominal

ABG

arterial blood gas

ac

before meals

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

ACTH

adrenocartiotropic hormone

*AD

right ear

ADH

antidiuretic hormone

ADHD

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ad lib

as desired

ADL

activities of daily living

adm

admission

AED

automated external defibrilation

AHA

american hospital association

AID’s

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AL

assisted living

am, AM

morning, before noon

AMA

american medical association; against medical advice

amal

amalgam

amb

ambulate; walk

amt

amount

ANA

american nurse’s association

ANP

advanced nurse practitioner

ANS

automatic nervous system

ant

anterior

AP

apical pulse

approx

approximately

aq, aqua

aqueous; water based

ARC

AIDS- related complex

ARF

acute renal failure

AROM

active range of motion

ART

accredited records technician

*AS

left ear

as tol

as tolerated

ASA

aspirin

ASCVD

arterosclerotic cardiovascular disease

ASHD

arterosclerotic heart disease

*AU

both ears

av

average

AV

arteriovenous

A&W

alive and well

Ax

axilla; axillary; armpit

Ba

barium

bacti

bacteriology

B&B

bowel and bladder training

B&C

biopsy and conization

BBB

bundle; branch; block

BBS

bilateral breath sounds

BE

barium enema

bid

twice a day

bil

bilateral

Bl

blood

Bl Wk

blood work

BM

bowel movement; bone marrow

BMI

body mass index

BMR

basal metabolic rate

BP

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy

BR

bed rest

BRP

bathroom privleges

BS

blood sugar

BSA

body surface area

BSC; bsc

bedside commode

BSE

breast self examination

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

Bx; bx

biopsy

℃

degrees celcius

_

c; w/

with

Ca

calcium

CA

cancer

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

cal

calorie

Cap

capsule

CAT

computerized axial tomography

cath

cathater

CBC

complete blood count

CBET

certified biomedical equipment technician

CBR

complete bed rest

*cc

cubic centimeter

CC

chief complaint

CCU

coronary/critical care unit

CDA

certified dental assistant

CDC

center for disease control

CEO

chief executive officer

CEU

continuing education unit

CF

cystic fibrosis

CHD

coronary heart disease

CHF

congestive heart failure

CHO

carbohydrate

chol

cholesterol

CICU

cardiac intensive care unit

ck

check

cl

chloride; chlorine

cl liq

clear liquid

cm

centimeter