APPENDIX M Medical Abbreviations and Symbols List Welcome to the new abbreviation and symbol list. This is not a complete listing of medical abbreviations or symbols, but contains commonly found abbreviations used in Adult Care Home and In Home Service settings. Abbreviation a ac abd AD ADL ad lib AKA amb ama, AMA AMI ANS appt ARDS AROM AS AVR AV ASAP ASHD BID, bid BKA BM BP BPH BR or br BSC BUN Bx or BX c c/o C1, C2 Ca, CA caps CAD CAT or CT scan cath Meaning before before meals abdomen Alzheimer s disease; right ear activities of daily living as desired above the knee amputation ambulation (walk) against medical advice, American Medical Assoc. acute myocardial infarction autonomic nervous system appointment adult respiratory distress active range of motion left ear; aortic stenosis aortic valve replacement atrioventricular (heart) as soon as possible arterisosclerotic heart disease twice in the day below knee amputation bowel movement blood pressure benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate gland) bath room bed side commode, a portable potty chair blood urea nitrogen (a lab test) biopsy with complaints of refers to cervical vertebra #1, #2, a location in the spine cancer capsule with medication in it coronary artery disease (heart disease) computerized axial tomography ( CAT scan of the body) catheter (a tube used to drain out body fluid)
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 2 CABG CBC CC CCU CHD CHF CNS cont. COPD CO2 CPR CXR CRF CVA CVD CVS cysto coronary arterial bypass graft complete blood count ( a blood test) chief complaint; cardiac catheterization coronary care unit coronary heart disease congestive heart failure central nervous system continued chronic obstructive pulmonary disease carbon dioxide cardiopulmonary resuscitation chest xray chronic renal failure (kidney failure) cerebral vascular accident cardiovascular disease cardiovascular system cystoscopy /d per day DC or D/C discharge dc discontinue decub decubitus ulcer (pressure sore, bedsore) DJD degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) DM diabetes mellitus (diabetes) DOA date of admission; dead on arrival DOB date of birth Dx diagnosis drsg dressing DSD dry sterile dressing DT, DTs delirium tremens ( the shakes from alcohol withdrawal) ECG, EKG EEG e.g. ENT ERT est, EST ETOH FBS F/U FU FUO Fx G tube GB GBS electrocardiogram electroencephalogram (measurement of electric brain activity) example ears, nose, throat estrogen replacement therapy estimate; electroshock therapy ethanol (alcohol) fasting blood sugar (a lab test) follow up fever of unknown origin fracture gastric tube (a tube in the stomach) gall bladder gall bladder series (a type of xray of the gut)
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 3 GC GERD GU gtts gyn hgb hct HHA H2O HS, hs ht Hx hx I & O ICF ICU ID IDDM IM inj IV IVP gonorrhea gastroesophageal reflux disease (a severe recurrent heartburn disorder) genitourinary drops gynecology hemoglobin, hematocrit, (both are blood cell measurements) home health agency; or home health aide water hour of sleep, or at bedtime height history intake and output ( amount of fluid taken in and urine output) intermediate care facility intensive care unit incision and drainage (when a scalpel is used to cut & drain a boil) insulin dependent diabetes mellitus intramuscular injection intravenous intravenous pyelogram ( a type of xray of the kidneys and bladder) L lft lt left L1, L2, L3 refers to the lumbar section of the spine lab laboratory liq liquid LLQ left lower quadrant LP lumbar puncture (spinal tap) LPN licensed practical nurse LRQ lower right quadrant LUQ left upper quadrant LV left ventricle max meds MI mod MRI MS MVR N/C NG, NGT maximum medications myocardial infarction (heart attack) moderate magnetic resonance imaging mitral stenosis; multiple sclerosis; musculoskeletal mitral valve replacement no complaints nasogastric (tube)
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 4 NIDDM noc norm NPO NSAID nsg OA OBS occ OD OOB OS OU orth ortho os OV O2 p P PA Pap path pc, p.c. PDR PE pe prn, p.r.n. PROM PO po pt PVC PVD ph ph q qam qd qod qh q2h, q3h, q4h qhs qid quad non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus night normal nothing by mouth nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug nursing osteoarthritis organic brain syndrome occasional right eye; overdose out of bed left eye both eyes orthopedic bone; opening; mouth office visit oxygen after pulse physician assistant pap smear ( a lab test) pathology after meals physician s desk reference (a drug handbook) physical exam as needed or required passive range of motion my mouth patient premature ventricular contraction peripheral vascular disease hydrogen ion concentration ( a measure of the acidity of a substance) every every am every day every other day every hour every 2 hours, every 3 hours, every 4 hours every night (hour of sleep) four times a day quadriplegic ( arms and legs paralyzed) R, rt right
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 5 RA re: rbc, RBC reg resp RLQ RN R/O, r/o ROM RUQ RV Rx, RX right atrium about or regarding red blood cell regular respiration or breaths right lower quadrant registered nurse rule out range of motion right upper quadrant right ventricle treatment s without SA sinoatrial node sl sublingual meaning under the tongue sm small SOB short of breath S/P, s/p status post (status post an event, s/p MI, s/p CVA, s/p GI bleed) spec specimen spec grav, sp gr specific gravity (urine test) s & s, s/s signs and symptoms staph staphylococcus stat immediately STD sexually transmitted disease strep streptococcus subq, subc subcutaneous symp, Sx symptom T temperature T1, T2, T3 refers to the thoracic section of the spine tab tablet, a tablet of medication, a round pill TB tuberculosis THR total hip replacement TIA transient ischemic attack tid three times a day TKR total knee replacement T/O, t/o telephone order TPR temperature, pulse, respiration (the measurement of these 3 things) tsp teaspoon measurement TUR, TURP transurethral resection (prostate gland surgery in men) Tx treatment U/A, u/a urine analysis
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols, page 6 URI UTI VD VO, v/o vs, VS, v/s WBC, wbc W/C WNL w/o wt w/u x y/o yr upper respiratory infection urinary tract infection venereal disease verbal order vital signs (temperature, pulse and respiration measurements) white blood cell wheel chair within normal limits without weight work up times years old year Commonly Used Symbols increase decrease ~ approximately # number @ at o degree > greater than < less than + positive - negative +, & and Ø nothing, not, none = equal to not equal to male female one of something 2, 3 of something (dss.abrvlist/98)