medical abbreviations & acronyms

Abd

abdomen

ABGs

arterial blood gases

a.c

before meals

ACLS

advance cardiac life support

Ad lib

as desired

ADHD

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

AKA

above-the-knee amputation

AMA

against medical advice

ASA

aspirin

ASAP

as soon as possible

BE

barium enema

BKA

below-the-knee amputation

BMI

body mass index

BP

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy

BPM

beats per minute

BRP

bathroom privileges

BSA

body surface area

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

Bx

biopsy

c̄

width

C

celsius

C&S

culture and sensitivity

Ca

calcium; cancer

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

CBC

complete blood count

CC

chief complaint

CDC 

centers for disease control and prevention

cm

centimeter

CMS

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

CNS

Central nervous system

CP

Chest pain

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Cdf

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computed tomography

Cv

cardiovascular

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

CXR

chest x-ray

d

day

D&C

dilation and curettage

D/C, dc

discharge, discontinue

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOB

date of birth

DTap

diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine

Dx

Diagnosis

ECG, EKG

electrocardiogram

ED

emergency department

EEG

electroencephalogram

ENT

ear, nose, and throat

F

fahrenheit

FBS, FBG

fasting blood sugar/glucosef

f/u

follow up

FUO

fever of unknown origin

Fx

fracture

GI

gastrointestinal

GTT

glucose tolerance test

gtt

drop

GU

genitourinary

GYN

gynecology, gynecologist

H, hr

hour

Hct

hematocrit

HEENT

head, ears, eyes, nose, throat

HF

hemoglobin

HIPAA

health insurance portability and accountability act

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

HPV

human papillomavirus

HTN

hypertension

Hx

history

I&D

incision and drainage

I&O

intake and output

ICU

intensive care unit

IUD

intrauterine device

K

potassium

KUB

kidneys, ureters, bladder

L

liter or left

lb

pound

LLE

left lower extremity

LLL

left lower lobe

LLQ

left lower quadrant

LMP

last menstrual period

LUE

left upper extremity

LUQ

left upper quadrant

Mg/dl

milligrams per deciliter

MI

myocardial infarction

mL

milliliters

MM

mucous membrane

mmHg

millimeters of mercury

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

MS

multiple sclerosis

N/V

nausea/vomiting

NB

newborn

NG

nasograstric

NKA/NKDA

no known allergies/no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

NSAID

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

OB

obstetrics