Abbreviations

Master Medical Abbreviation List

ABG

Arterial Blood Gases, a test that measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

AED

Automated external defibrillator. Not to be confused with the bomb.

AFIB / A-Fib

Atrial fibrillation. Stop saying arterial.

bd / BID

Twice a day. Bi-Daily

BP

Blood pressure

BUN

Blood urine nitrogen.

AC

Before meals. Actually before meals.

CBC

Complete Blood Count. My bloodwork

CHD and CHF

Congenital Heart Disease, Congestive heart failure

CKD

Chronic Kidney Disease. KD has it

CNS

Central Nervous System. Think of the news, central news system

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CRF

Chronic Renal Failure

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid. CS-F

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident. Think CV - S. CV - A.

D & C

Dilation and curettage. D n D because that thing is nasty.

DKA

Diabetic ketoacidosis. Think KA - Kynes Aegis - Ketoacidosis.

DM

DEATHMATCH. Its diabetes mellitus. Diabetes actual name.

DNR

Do not resuscitate. DNRA would be do not resuscitate airway.

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis. Deep in that vein throbin.

DX and RX. Hx. MED and MEDS.

DX is the diagnosis, while RX treats the DX. Its the prescription. Hx is the history of. Literally meds. medications.

ECG, EKG

Electrocardiogram.

EGD

Think egged. Opposite of a colonoscopy. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

ESR

This is the one Fred said was stupid. Detects inflammation somewhere in the body. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

ESRD

ESRD. Add the D to the inflammation ESR. End Stage Renal Disease

FUO.

Think UFO - unknown alien. Fever of an unknown origin. Normally ongoing for weeks.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Think stomach and mouth.

GI

Gastrointestinal

HAV, HBV, HCV

Hepatitis A Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus

Hb, HGB

Hemoglobin. Iron in the blood that gives it its pigmentation.

H / h/ hr

Hours

HIPPA

Health insurance portability and accountability act.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus. Immuno attack

hs

before bed. helps sleep

HTN

Hypertension. High blood pressure.

IBD and IBS

Inflammatory bowel disease. Irritable bowel syndrome.

ICD

Implanted / implantable cardioverter defibrillator. ICD-10 is a diagnostic code for insurance.

IDDM

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 1, destroys beta cells in the pancreas that create insulin.

IM. IV

IM MY. In my muscles. Intramuscular. IV is in the vein. Intravenously.

LBBB

Left bundle branch block. Left bundle branch taking longer than the right.

LFT

Liver function test.

MI

Myocardial infarction. Infarction is death of tissue caused by the lack of blood supply. This is a heart attack.

MMR

Measles, mumps, and rubella.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

NG

Nasogastric / nasogastric feeding tube. Through the nose to the gassy stomach.

NIDDM

Non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

NKA, NKDA

No known allergy, and no known drug allergy.

NPO

Nothing by mouth. No p oral

NSAID, NSAIDs

Pronounced n “said”. ensed. Non steroidal anti-nflammatory drugs. Ibeuprofen

OTC

Over the counter. APPARENTLY NOT BAC WATER

PAP

Papanicolaou. PAP smear. Tests for cervical cancer.