medical abbreviations

ABC

Airway, breathing, circulation

Abd

Abdomen

ac or a.c.

Before meals

A&D

Admission and discharge

Amb

Ambulatory

AD

Right ear

AS

Left ear

AU

Both ears

Bid

Twice aday

BM

Bowel movement

BPM

Beats per minute

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen

Bx

Biopsy

Cap

Capsule

CBC

Complete blood count

CC (caps)

Chief complaint

cc (lower c)

Cubic centimeter

CHF

Congestive heart failure

Cm

Centimeter

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

C/O

Chief complaint

Cta

Clear to auscultation

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident or stroke

D/c

Discharge

DOA

Dead on arrival

DPT

Diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine

DSM

Diagnostic and statistical manual

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis

Ecg( EKG )

Electrocardiogram

EEG

Electroencephalogram

FBS

Fasting blood sugar

Ft

Foot or feet

g/dL

Grans per deciliter

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

GI

Gastrointestinal

GU

Genitourinary

Gr

Grain

gtt

Drop

gtt/min

Drops per minute

h

Hours

HOB

Head of bed

HBP

High blood pressure

hs

Hour of sleep

Hct

Hematocrit

hgb

Hemoglobin

h/o

History of (hx)

IM

Intramuscular

I&O

Input and output

kg

Kilogram

LLQ

Lower left quadrant

L

Liter

L/min

Liter per minute

LMP

Last menstrual period

LOC

Level or loss of consciousness

LUQ

Left upper quadrant

m

Meter

mcg

Microgram

mEq

Milliequivalent

mEQ/L

Milliequivalent per liter

mg

Milligram

mg/dL

Milligrams per deciliter

MI

Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

min

Minute

mL

Milliliter

mm3

Cubic millimeter

mm Hg

Millimeters of mercury

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

Noct

At night

NPO

Nothing by mouth

NSAID

Nonsterodial anti inflammatory drug

NSR

Normal sinus rhythm

NV

Nausea/vomiting

OD

Right eye

OS

Left eye

OU

Both eyes

pc or p.c.

After meals

PERRLA

Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation

prn

As needed

PO

By mouth

y/o

Years old

wt

Weight

WNL

Within normal limits

W/C

Wheel chair

WBC

White blood count

VS

Vital signs

UA

Urinalysis

U/L

Unit per liter

U

Unit

TPR

Temperature, pulse, respiration

tid

Three times a day

tab

Tablet

T

Temperature

susp

Suspension

supp

Suppository

STAT

Immediately

SOB

Shortness of breath

SOAPIE

Subjective data, objective date, assessment, plan, implementation, evaluation

SOAP

Subjective data, objective data, assessment, plan

SL

Sublingual

S.Q.

Subcutaneously