Common Abbreviations - Medical terminology

A&P

Anatomy and physiology

ā

before

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

abd

abdomen

ABC

airway, breathing, circulation

ac

before meals

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

ADL

activity of daily living

ad lib

as desired

AED

automated external defibrillator

AF

atrial fibrillation

AICD

Automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AK

above the knee

AKA

above-the-knee amputation

ALTE

apparent life-threatening event

AMA

against medical advice

amb

ambulatory

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

ant

anterior

AO x 4

alert and oriented to person, place, time, and self

AP

anteroposterior, front-to-back, action potential, arterial pressure

ARDS

adult respiratory distress syndrome

ASA

aspirin

ASHD

arteriosclerotic heart disease

BGL

blood glucose level

BID

twice daild

BKA

below the knee amputation

BLS

basic life support

BM

bowl movement

BP

blood pressure

BPM

beats per minute

BRUE

Brief resolved unexplained event

BS

blood sugar, breath sounds, bowel sounds

BSA

body surface area

BVM

bag-valve mask

bx

biospy

c-

with

°C

degrees celsius

CA

cancer, cardiac arrest, chronologic age, coronary artery

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

CBC

complete blood cell count

CC

Chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit

c diff

clostridium difficile

CHF

congestive heart failure

cm

centimeter

CN

cyanide

CNS

central nervous system

c/o

complaining of

CO

cardiac output, carbon monoxide

CO2

carbon dioxide

COLD

chronic obstructive lung disease

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP

chest pain, chemically pure, cerebral palsy

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRNA

Certified registered nurse anesthetist

CRT

Capillary refill time, cathode ray tube

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computed tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNR

do not resucitate

DOA

dead on arrival

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

DON

director of nursing

DPT

diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine

DSD

dry sterile dressing

DtaP

diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine

DTP

diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine

Dts

delirium tremens

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

Dx

diagnosis

ECG

electrocardiogram

ED

emergency department, erectile dysfunction

EDC

estimated date of confinement

EEG

electroencephalogram

EKG

electrocardiogram

ENT

ears, nose, and throat

EOC

emergency operations center

ER

emergency room

ET

endotracheal

ETA

estimated time of arrival

ETCO2

end-tidal carbon dioxide

ETOH

ethyl alcohol

°F

degrees Fahrenheit

FIO2

fraction of inspired oxygen

FBS

fasting blood sugar

Fe

iron

FHR

fetal heart rate

FHx

family history

fl

fluid

fx

fracture

GB

gallbladder

GCS

glasgow coma scale

GERD

gastroesophegeal reflux disease

GI

gastrointestinal

GSW

gunshot wound