Common Medical Abbreviations and Their Meanings

ABG

Arterial blood gas

ABO

A system of classifying blood groups

a.c.

Before meals

ADL

Activities of daily living

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AP

Anterioposterior

A&P

Anterior and posterior, Anatomy & Physiology

ARDS

Adult respiratory distress syndrome

bact

Bacteriology

b.d

Twice a day

BP

Blood pressure

bpm

Beats per minute

BSA

Body surface area

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen

BX, Bx

Biopsy

C

Celsius, centigrade, complement

Ca, ca

Cancer, carcinoma

CAG's

Coronary artery grafts (Coronary artery bypass CAB)

caps

Capsules

CCF

Congestive cardiac failure

CCU

Coronary care unit

cg

Centigram

CHF

Congestive heart failure

cm

Centimeter

CNS

Central nervous system

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, C-reactive protein

C&S

Culture and sensitivity

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid

CT, CAT

Computerized tomography, Computerized axial tomography

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident

D&C

Dilatation and curettage

D&V

Diarrhea and Vomiting

DIC

Disseminated intravascular coagulation

DIFF, diff

Differential blood count

DM

Diabetes mellitus

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOA

Dead on arrival

DPT

Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (toxoids/vaccine)

DT's

Delirium tremens

D/W

Dextrose in water

Dx

Diagnosis

ECG

Electrocardiogram

ED

Emergency department

EEG

Electroencephalogram

ENT

Ear, nose, and throat

ESR

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

exc

Excision

F

Fahrenheit

Fe

Iron

FBS, FBG

Fasting blood sugar/glucose

ft

Foot, feet

FUO

Fever of undetermined (unknown) origin

g, gm

Gram

GI

Gastrointestinal

GP

General practitioner

gr

Grain

gt, gtt

Drop, drops

GTT

Glucose tolerance test

GYN, gyn

Gynecology

Hb, Hgb

Hemoglobin

HCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin

HR

Heart rate

Hx

History

ICU

Intensive care unit

I.M.

Intramuscular

IN

Intra-nasal

In situ

In place

inf

Inferior

inj

Inject

I&O

Intake and output

IPPB

Intermittent positive-pressure breathing

IUD

Intrauterine device

IV

Intravenous

K

Potassium

kg

kilogram

KO

Keep open

KVO

Keep vein open

L, l

Liter

lat

lateral

lb

Pound

LBBB

Left bundle branch block

LFT

Liver function test

LH

Luteinizing hormone

LLL

Left lower lobe

LOC

Loss of consciousness

LOS

Length of stay

L/S

Lying/Standing

Lt, L)

left

LUQ

Left upper quadrant

LV

Left ventricle

m

Meter, minim

MD

Medical doctor, muscular dystrophy

MI

Myocardial infarction

MRSA

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus

MSU

Midstream specimen of urine

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

Na

Sodium

NAD

No abnormalities detected

NIDDM

Non insulin dependant diabetes