A-a gradient – alveolar to arterial gradient

AAS – acute abdominal series

ABG – arterial blood gas

AC – before eating

ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD – autonomic dysreflexia

ADH – anti-diuretic hormone

AF – atrial fibrillation or afebrile

A/G – albumin/globulin ratio

ANA – antinuclear antibody

AODM – adult o­nset diabetes mellitus

AS – aortic stenosis

ASAP – as soon as possible

ASCVD – atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

ASD – atrial septal defect

ASHD – atherosclerotic heart disease

ASIA – American Spinal Injury Association

AV – atrioventricular

A-V – arteriovenous

A-VO2 – arteriovenous oxygen

BEE – basal energy expenditure

bid – twice a day

BKA – below the knee amputation

BM – bone marrow or bowel movement

BMR – basal metabolic rate

BOM – bilateral otitis media

BP – blood pressure

BPH – benign prostatic hypertrophy

BPM – beats per minute

BRBPR – bright red blood per rectum

BRP – bathroom privileges

BS – bowel or breath sounds

BUN – blood urea nitrogen

BW – body weight

BX – biopsy

C&S – culture and sensitivity

CA – cancer

Ca – calcium

CAA – crystalline amino acids

CABG – coronary artery bypass graft

CAD – coronary artery disease

CAT – computerized axial tomography

CBC – complete blood count

CBG – capillary blood gas

CC – chief complaint

CCU – clean catch urine or cardiac care unit

CCV – critical closing volume

CF – cystic fibrosis

CGL – chronic granulocytic leukemia

CHF – congestive heart failure

CHO – carbohydrate

CI – cardiac index

CML – chronic myelogenous leukemia

CMV – cytomegalovirus

CN – cranial nerves

CNS – central nervous system

CO – cardiac output

C/O – complaining of

COLD – chronic obstructive lung disease

COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP – chest pain or cerebral palsy

CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure

CPK – creatinine phosphokinase

CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRCL – creatinine clearance

CRF – chronic renal failure

CRP – C-reactive protein

CRTS – certified recreational therapy specialist

CSF – cerebrospinal fluid

CSW – certified social worker

CT – computerized tomography

CVA – cerebrovascular accident or costovertebral angle

CVAT – CVA tenderness

CVP – central venous pressure

CXR – chest X-ray

DAT – diet as tolerated

DAW – dispense as written

DC – discontinue or discharge

D&C – dilation and curettage

DDx – differential diagnosis

D5W – 5% dextrose in water

DI – diabetes insipidus

DIC – disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

DIP – distal interphalangeal joint

DJD – degenerative joint disease

DKA – diabetic ketoacidosis

dL – deciliter

DM – diabetes mellitus

DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid

DNR – do not resuscitate

DOA – dead o­n arrival

DOE – dyspnea o­n exertion

DPL – diagnostic peritoneal lavage

DPT – diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus

DTR – deep tendon reflexes

DVT – deep venous thrombosis

DX – diagnosis

EAA – essential amino acids

EBL – estimated blood loss

ECD – external continence device

ECG – electrocardiogram

ECT – electroconvulsive therapy

ED – erectile dysfunction

EFAD – essential fatty acid deficiency

EMG – Electromyogram

EMV – eyes, motor, verbal response (Glasgow coma scale)

ENT – ears, nose, and throat

EOM – extraocular muscles

ESR – erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ET – endotracheal

ETT – endotracheal tube

ERCP – endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography

ETOH – ethanol

EUA – examination under anesthesia

FBS – fasting blood sugar

FES – functional electrical stimulation

FEV – forced expiratory volume

FFP – fresh frozen plasma

FRC – functional residual capacity

FTT – failure to thrive

FU – follow-up

FUO – fever of unknown origin

FVC – forced vital capacity

Fx – fracture

GC – gonorrhea

GETT – general by endotracheal tube

GFR – glomerular filtration rate

GI – gastrointestinal

gr – grain; 1 grain = 65mg

GSW – gun shot wound

gt or gtt – drops

GTT – glucose tolerance test

GU – genitourinary

GXT – graded exercise tolerance (Stress test)

HA – headache

HAA – hepatitis B surface antigen

HAV – hepatitis A virus

HBP – high blood pressure

HCG – human chorionic gonadotropin

HCT – hematocrit

HDL – high density lipoprotein

HEENT – head, eyes, ears, nose, throat

Hgb – hemoglobin

H/H – Henderson-Hasselbach equation or hemoglobin/ hematocrit

HIV – human immunodeficiency virus

HLA – histocompatibility locus antigen

HJR – hepatojugular reflex

HO – history of

HOB – head of bed

HPF – high power field

HPI – history of present illness

HR – heart rate

HS – at bedtime

HSM – hepatosplenomegaly

HTLV-III – human lymphotropic virus, type III (AIDS agent, HIV)

HSV – herpes simplex virus

HTN – hypertension

Hx – history

I&D – incision and drainage

I&O – intake and output

ICS – intercostal space

ICU – intensive care unit

ID – infectious disease or identification

IDDM – insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

IG – immunoglobulin

IHSS – idiopathic hypertropic subaortic stenosis

IM – intramuscular

IMV – intermittent mandatory ventilation

INF – intravenous nutritional fluid

IPPB – intermittent positive pressure breathing

IRBBB – incomplete right bundle branch block

IRDM – insulin resistant diabetes mellitus

IT – interthecal

ITP – idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

IV – intravenous

IVC – intravenous cholangiogram or inferior vena cava

IVP – intravenous pyelogram

L – left

LAD – left axis deviation or left anterior descending

LAE – left atrial enlargement

LAHB – left anterior hemiblock

LAP – left atrial pressure or leukocyte alkaline phosphatase

LBBB – left bundle branch block

LDH – lactate dehydrogenase

LDL – low density lipoprotein

LE – lupus erythematosus

LIH – left inguinal hernia

LLL – left lower lobe

LMP – last menstrual period

LNMP – last normal menstrual period

LOC – loss of consciousness or level of consciousness

LP – lumbar puncture

LPN – licensed practical nurse

LUL – left upper quadrant

LV – left ventricle

LVEDP – left ventricular end diastolic pressure

LVH – left ventricular hypertrophy

MAO – monoamine oxidase

MAP – mean arterial pressure

MAST – medical antishock trousers

MBT – maternal blood type

MCH – mean cell hemoglobin

MCHC – mean cell hemoglobin concentration

MCV – mean cell volume

MI – myocardial infarction or mitral insufficiency

mL – milliliter

MLE – midline episiotomy

MMEF – maximal mid expiratory flow

mmol – millimole

MMR – measles, mumps, rubella

MRI – magnetic resonance imaging

MRSA – methicillin resistant staph aureus

MS – multiple sclerosis or mitral stenosis, or morphine sulfate

MSSA – methicillin-sensitive staph aureus

MVV – maximum voluntary ventilation

MUSE – medicated urethral system erection

MVA – motor vehicle accident

MVI – multivitamin injection

NAD – no active disease

NAS – no added salt

NCV – nerve conduction velocity

NED – no evidence of recurrent disease

ng – nanogram

NG – nasogastric

NIDDM – non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

NKA – no known allergies

NKDA – no known drug allergies

NMR – nuclear magnetic resonance

NPO – nothing by mouth

NRM – no regular medications

NSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

NSR – normal sinus rhythm

NT – nasotracheal

OB – obstetrics

OCG – oral cholecystogram

OD – overdose or right eye

OM – otitis media

OOB – out of bed

OPV – oral polio vaccine

OR – operating room

OS – left eye

OT – occupational therapy or occupational therapist

OU – both eyes

P – para

PA – posteroanterior

PAC – premature atrial contraction

PAO2 – alveolar oxygen

PaO2 – peripheral arterial oxygen content

PAP – pulmonary artery pressure

PAT – paroxysymal atrial tachycardia

P&PD – percussion and postural drainage

PC – after eating

PCWP – pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PDA – patent ductus arteriosus

PDR – physicians desk reference

PE – pulmonary embolus, or physical exam or pleural effusion

PEEP – positive end expiratory pressure

PFT – pulmonary function tests

pg – picogram

PI – pulmonic insufficiency disease

PKU – phenylketonuria

PMH – previous medical history

PMI – point of maximal impulse

PMN – polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil)

PND – paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

PO – by mouth

POD – post-op day

PP – postprandial or pulsus paradoxus

PPD – purified protein derivative

PPMS – primary progressive multiple sclerosis

PPS – post-polio syndrome

PR – by rectum

PRBC – packed red blood cells

PRN – as needed

PS – pulmonic stenosis

PSA – prostate-specific antigen

PT – prothrombin time, or physical therapy

Pt – patient

PTCA – percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

PTH – parathyroid hormone

PTHC – percutanous transhepatic cholangiogram

PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder

PTT – partial thromboplastin time

PUD – peptic ulcer disease

PVC – premature ventricular contraction

PVD – peripheral vascular disease

PVR – post voiding residual

q – every

qd – every day

qh – every hour

q4h, q6h…. – every 4 hours, every 6 hours etc.

qid – four times a day

QNS – quantity not sufficient

qod – every other day

Qs/Qt – shunt fraction

Qt – total cardiac output

R – right

RA – rheumatoid arthritis or right atrium

RAD – right atrial axis deviation

RAE – right atrial enlargement

RAP – right atrial pressure

RBBB – right bundle branch block

RBC – red blood cell

RBP – retinol-binding protein

RDA – recommended daily allowance

RDW – red cell distribution width

RIA – radioimmunoassay

RIH – right inguinal hernia

RLL – right lower lobe

RLQ – right lower quadrant

RML – right middle lobe

RNA – ribonucleic acid

R/O – rule out

ROM – range of motion

ROS – review of systems

RPG – retrograde pyelogram

RPMS – relapsing-progressive multiple sclerosis

RRMS – relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

RRR – regular rate and rhyth

RT – respiratory or radiation therapy

RTA – renal tubular acidosis

RTC – return to clinic

RU – resin uptake

RUG – retrograde urethogram

RUL – right upper lobe

RUQ – right upper quadrant

RV – residual volume

RVH – right ventricular hyperthrophy

Rx – treatment

s – without

SA – sinoatrial

SAA – synthetic amino acid

S&E – sugar and acetone

SBE – subacute bacterial endocarditis

SBFT – small bowel follow through

SBS – short bowel syndrome

SCr – serum creatinine

SCI – spinal cord injury

SCI/D – spinal cord injury and disorder

SEM – systolic ejection murmur

SG – Swan-Ganz

SGA – small for gestational age

SGGT – serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase

SGOT – serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase

SGPT – serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase

SIADH – syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone

sig – write o­n label

SIMV – synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation

sl – sublingual

SLE – systemic lupus erythematous

SMO – slips made out

SOAP – Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan

SOB – shortness of breath

SPMS – secondary preogressive multiple sclerosis

SQ – subcutaneous

ss – o­ne-half

STAT – immediately

SVD – spontaneous vaginal delivery

SW – social worker

Sx – symptoms

T&C – type and cross

TAH – total abdominal hysterectomy

T&H – type and hold

TB – tuberculosis

TBG – total binding globulin

Td – tetanus-diphtheria toxoid

TIA – transient ischemic attack

TIBC – total iron binding capacity

tid – three times a day

TIG – tetanus immune globulin

TKO – to keep open

TLC – total lung capacity

TMJ – temporo mandibular joint

TNTC – too numerous to count

TO – telephone order

TOPV – trivalent oral polio vaccine

TPN – total parenteral nutrition

TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone

TT – thrombin time

TTP – thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

TU – tuberculin units

TUR – transurethral resection

TURBT – TUR bladder tumors

TURP – transurethral resection of prostate

TV – tidal volume

TVH – total vaginal hysterectomy

tw – twice a week

Tx – treatment, transplant