Common Medical Abbreviations

a (with a line over)

before

AAO

awake, alert, oriented

AKA

above knee amputation

abd

abdomen

ABG

arterial blood gas

ac

before meals

ADLs

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

AM; am

morning

AMA

against medical advice

amb

ambulatory

amt

amount

AKI

acute kidney injury

ax

axillary

bid

twice daily

BKA

below knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BRP

bathroom privileges

BR

bed rest

c (with a line over)

with

CBC

complete blood count

CHF

congestive heart failure

c/o

complains of

CO2

carbon dioxide

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CKD

chronic kidney disease

CAD

coronary artery disease

DM

diabetes mellitus

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

dx

diagnosis

ECG; EKG

electrocardiogram

ER

emergency room

GI

gastrointestinal

GERD

gastro-esophageal reflux disease

GU

genitourinary

drsg

dressing

CTA

clear to auscultation

ETOH

alcohol

hx; h/o

history; history of

HOB

head of bed

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggy back

I&O

intake and output

LLE

lower left extremity

LUE

left upper extremity

LUQ

left upper quadrant

LLQ

lower left quadrant

N/V

nausea and vomiting

NPO

nothing per oral

NGT

naso-gastric tube

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NC

nasal cannula

stat

at once

OB

obstetrics

OOB

out of bed

OR

operating room

OT

occupational therapy

O2

oxygen

p (with a line over)

post

pc

after meals

PE

physical examination; pulmonary embolism

per

by; through

post op

postoperative

pre op

preoperative

pr

per rectum

po

per oral

prn

when necessary

PT

physical therapy

PRBC

packed red blood cells

PVD

peripheral vascular disease

qs

as much as sufficient

R

respirations

RBC

red blood cells

RLE

right lower extremity

RLQ

right lower quadrant

R/O

rule out

RT

respiratory therapy; respiratory therapist

RUE

right upper extremity

RUQ

right upper quadrant

Tx

treatment

s (with a line over)

without

SubQ; SC; SQ

subcutaneous

SOB

shortness of breath

Sx

symtpoms

S/P

status post

tid

three times daily

UA

urinalysis

via

by way of

VS

vital signs

WBC

white blood cell count

WNL

within normal limits

w/c

wheelchair

x (with a line over)

except

2^o

secondary

dc; d/c; DC; D/C

discharge; discontinue

HS; hs

hours of sleep