Medical Terminology Abbreviations

A comprehensive collection of medical terminology abbreviations including diagnostic, anatomical, and treatment-related shorthand as used in clinical records.

@

at

A & P

anatomy and physiology

ABG

arterial blood gas

a.c.

before meals

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

AD

right ear

ADL

activities of daily living

AKA

above the knee

AMA

against medical advice

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

ANS

automatic nervous system

AOx3

alert and oriented to person, time, and place

AP

apical pulse

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

AS

left ear

ASA

aspirin

AU

both ears

bid

twice a day

BKA

below the knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

B/P

blood pressure

BRP

bathroom privileges

BSO

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

BUN

blood, urea, nitrogen levels

bx

biopsy

c

with

C & S

culture and sensitivity

CA

cancer

CAD

coronary artery disease

CBC

complete blood count

CC

chief complaint

CHF

congestive heart failure

CHO

carbohydrate

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

D & C

dilation and curettage

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

dead on arrival

Dx

diagnosis

EBL

estimated blood loss

EKG

electrocardiogram

ETOH

ethyl alcohol, intoxicated

FBS

fasting blood sugar

Fx

fracture

GI

gastrointestinal

GTT

glucose tolerance test (pancreas test)

gtt(s)

drop(s)

H & H

hemoglobin and hematocrit

HCG

human chorionic gonadotrophin

HDL

high-density lipoprotein

Hx

history

I & O

intake and output

ICP

intracranial pressure

IM

intramuscular

IUD

intrauterine device

IV

intravenous

K+

$K^+$ (potassium)

KCl

$KCl$ (potassium chloride)

KUB

kidney, ureter, bladder

L & D

labor and delivery

LDL

low-density lipoprotein

LOC

level of consciousness

MI

myocardial infarction

Na+

$Na^+$ (sodium)

NaCl

$NaCl$ (sodium chloride)

NKA

no known allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

NSR

normal sinus rhythm

OD

right eye, overdose

OS

left eye

OU

both eyes

pc

after meals

pCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide ($pCO_2$)

PERL(A)

pupils equal and reactive to light (and accommodation)

pH

hydrogen ion concentration ($pH$)

PID

pelvic inflammatory disease

po

by mouth

pO2

partial pressure of oxygen ($pO_2$)

prn

as needed, whenever necessary

qd

every day

qid

four times a day

ROM

range of motion

s

without

SOB

shortness of breath

stat

immediately

Sx

symptoms

T & A

tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

tid

three times a day

TPN

total parenteral nutrition

TPR

temperature, pulse, respirations

TSH

thyroid-stimulating hormone

UA

urinalysis

URI

upper respiratory infection

UTI

urinary tract infection

V fib

ventricular fibrillation

VS

vital signs

WBC

white blood cell/count