Acronym Hub 📋

lists of common acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms

Medical acronyms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A ⇑ back to top ⇑

AAA = Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

ABG = Arterial Blood Gases

ABX = Antibiotics

AC = Anterior Cephalic Vein

AC = Before Meals

ACE = Angiotensin Converting Enzyme

ACL = Anterior Cruciate Ligament

ACTH = Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Ad lib = as desired

ADA = American Diabetes Association

ADH = Antidiuretic Hormone

ADL = Activities Of Daily Living

AED = Automated External Defibrillator

AF = Atrial Fibrillation

AFA = Advanced First Aid

AFB = Acid-fast Bacilli

AFP = Alpha-fetoprotein

AGA = Appropriate For Gestational Age

AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AKA = Above Knee Amputation

AKF = Acute Kidney Failure

ALP = Alkaline Phosphatase

ALT = Alanine Transaminase

AMA = Against Medical Advice

AMI = Acute Myocardial Infarction

AODM = Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus

AP = Apical Pulse

APE = Acute Pulmonary Embolism

APO = Acute Pulmonary Oedema

APSGN = Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis

ARDS = Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ARF = Acute Renal Failure

AS = Auricle Sinistrus

ASAD = Arthroscopic Subacromial Decompression

ASCUS = Atypical Squamous Cells Of Unknown Significance

ASD = Atrial Septal Defect

ASHD = Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease

AST = Aspartate Aminotransferase

ATN = Acute Tubular Necrosis

AU = Both Ears

AV = Atrio-Ventricular

AVB = Atrio-Ventricular Block

AXR = Abdominal X-Ray

B ⇑ back to top ⇑

B/K = Below Knee

BA = Breathing Apparatus

BAC = Blood Alcohol Content

BBP = Blood-Borne Pathogen

BBS = Bilateral Breath Sounds

BC = Birth Control

BE = Barium Enema

BG = Blood Glucose

BGL = Blood Glucose Level

BI = Brain Injury

BID = Twice Daily

BILAT = Bilateral

BM = Bowel Movement Or Breast Milk

BMI = Body Mass Index

BMT = Bone Marrow Transplant

BP = Blood Pressure

BPH = Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

BPV = Benign Positional Vertigo

BRM = Biologic Response Modifiers

BRP = Bathroom Privileges

BRT = Body Restorative Therapy

BS = Bowel Sounds

BSA = Body Surface Area

BSE = Breast Self Examination

BSI = Bodily Substance Isolation

BSL = Blood Sugar Level

BT = Bowel Tones

BUN = Blood Urea Nitrogen

Bx = Biopsy

BZD = BenZoDiazepine

C ⇑ back to top ⇑

C&S = Culture And Sensitivity

C/O = Complains Of

CA = Calcium

CABG = Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

CAD = Coronary Artery Disease

CAOX4 = Conscious

CAP = Capsule

CAPD = Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

CAT = Computerized Tomography Scan

CBC = Complete Blood Count

CBD = Common Bile Duct

CBE = Clinical Breast Examination

CBG = Capillary Blood Glucose

CBI = Continuous Bladder Irrigation

CBS = Capillary Blood Sugar

CC = Chief Complaint

CCK = Cholecystokinin

CCPD = Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis

CEA = Cultured Epithelial Autograft

CFT = Complement-Fixation Test

CHD = Coronary Heart Disease

CHF = Congestive Heart Failure

CI = ContraIndications

CID = Cervical Immobilization Device

CIN = Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasm

CL = Cleft Lip

CMS = Circulation

CNS = Central Nervous System

CO = Cardiac Output

COAD = Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease

COPD = Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CP = Chest Pain

CPAP = Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

CPD = Cephalo-pelvic Disproportion

CPP = Cerebral Perfusion Pressure

CPPD = Chest Percussion And Post Drainage

CPR = Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

CPR = Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease

CRF = Chronic Renal Failure

CRRT = Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

CRT = Capillary Refill Time

CSF = Cerebrospinal Fluid

CT = Chest Tube

CTD = Close To Death

CVA = Cerebral Vascular Accident

CVP = Central Venous Pressure

CX = Cervix

CXR = Chest X-ray

D ⇑ back to top ⇑

D5W = Dextrose 5% In Water (IV)

DAA = Denitrogenation Absorption Atelectasis

DAT = Diet As Tolerated

DC = Discontinue

DCCT = Diabetes Control And Complication Trials

DEX = Blood Sugar

DIA = Digital Image Analysis

DIC = Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

DKA = Diabetic Ketoacidosis

DM = Diabetic Mellitus

DNA = Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DNR = Do Not Resuscitate

DOA = Dead On Arrival

DP = Direct Pressure

DTR = Deep Tendon Reflex

DVT = Deep Vein Thrombosis

DX = Diagnosis

DXT = Blood Sugar

E ⇑ back to top ⇑

EBV = Epstein-Barr Virus

ECC = Emergency Cardiac Care

ECF = Extracellular Fluid

ECG = Electro CardioGram

ECMO = Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

ECT = Electroconvulsive Therapy

ECV = External Cephalic Version

EEG = ElectroEncephaloGram

EENT = Eye

EKG = Electrocardiogram

EMC = Ensephalomyocarditis

EMG = Electromyogram

EOA = Esophageal Obturator Airway

ER = Emergency Room

ERCP = Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

ESRD = End Stage Renal Disease

ET = Endotracheal Tube

F ⇑ back to top ⇑

F&R = Force And Rhythm

FA = Fatty Acid

FB = Foreign Body

FB = Foreign Body

FBS = Fasting Blood Sugar

FD = Fatal Dose

FDA = Food & Drug Administration

FHR = Fetal Heart Rate

FHT = Fetal Heart Tones

FNA = Fine Needle Aspiration

FOBT = Fecal Occult Blood Testing

FUO = Fever Of Unknown Origin

FVD = Fluid Volume Deficit

FX = Fracture

G ⇑ back to top ⇑

GB = Gallbladder

GD = once a day

GDM = Gestational Diabetes Melitus

GERD = Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

GFR = Glomerular Filtration Rate

GGT = Gamma-glutamyl Transferase

GI = Gastro-Intestinal

GLT = Glucose Loading Test

GOT = Glutamic Oxalic Transaminase

GTT = drop-liquid measurement

GTT = Glucose Tolerance Test

GU = Genito-Urinary

GU = Genitourinary

GVHD = Graft-Versus-Host-Disease

H ⇑ back to top ⇑

H20 = water

HA = Headache

HASHD = Hypertensive ArterioSclerotic Heart Disease

HB = Hemoglobin

HCG = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

HCO3 = Bicarbonate

HCT = Hematocrit

HD = Hemodialysis

HDL = High Density Lipoprotein

HEENT = Head

HGB = Hemoglobin

HGSIL = High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion

HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HPV = Human Papiloma Virus

HR = Heart Rate

HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy

HS = Bedtime

HTN = Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

HX = History

I ⇑ back to top ⇑

I&D = Incision and Drainage

I&O = Intake and Output

I:E = Inspiratory To Expiratory Ratio

IABP = Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump

IBC = Iron Binding Capacity

IBD = Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBW = Ideal Body Weight

ICCE = Intracapsular Cataract Extraction

ICF = Intermediate Care Facility

ICP = Intracranial Pressure

ICS = Intercostal Space

ICT = Inflammation Of Connective Tissue

ICU = Intensive Care Unit

IDDM = Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

IDM = Infant Of Diabetic Mother

IE = Inspiratory Exerciser

IH = Infectious Hepatitis

IHD = Ischemic Heart Disease

IIP = Implantable Insulin Pump

IM = Intramuscular

IMV = Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation

In vitro = in the laboratory

In vivo = in the body

INR = International Normalization Ratio

IOF = International Operation Forces

IPAP = Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure

IPD = Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis

IPPB = Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing

IPPV = Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation

ITP = Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

IUD = IntraUterine Device

IUPC = Intrauterine Pressure Catheter

IV = Intravenous

IVDA = IV Drug Abuse/Abuser

IVF = In Vitro Fertilization

IVP = Intravenous Pyelography

J ⇑ back to top ⇑

JAMA = Journal Of The American Medical Association

JVD = Jugular Vein Distention

JVP = Jugular Venous Pressure

K ⇑ back to top ⇑

K = Potassium

KCL = Potassium Chloride

KI = Potassium Iodide

KUB = Kidney

KUB = Kidney, Ureter, Bladder x-ray

KVO = Keep Vein Open

L ⇑ back to top ⇑

L&A = Light And Accommodation

LAD = Left Anterior Descending

LB = Large Bowel

LDL = Low Density Lipoprotein

LE = Lower Extremities

LE = Lupus Erythematosus

LEEP = Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure

LFTS = Liver Function Test

LIJ = Left Internal Jugular

LLQ = Left Lower Quadrant

LMA = Laryngeal Mask Airway

LMP = Last Menstrual Period

LOX = Liquid Oxygen

LP = Lumbar Puncture

LSC = Left Subclavian

LSIL = Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion

LUQ = Left Upper Quadrant

LVEF = Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

LVF = Left Ventricular Failure

LVH = Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

M ⇑ back to top ⇑

M.D. = Medical Doctor

MAP = Mean Arterial Pressure

MAR = Medication Administration Record

MCL = Modified Chest Lead

MDD = Maximum Daily Dose

MDI = Multiple Daily Vitamin

MI = Myocardial Infarction

MLC = Midline Catheter

MM = Mucous Membrane

MOABS = Monoclonal Antibodies

MOM = Milk Of Magnesia

MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRM = Modified Radical Mastectomy

MS = Multiple Sclerosis

MVA = Motor Vehicle Accident

N ⇑ back to top ⇑

N/T = No Tenderness

NA = Sodium

NACL = Sodium Chloride

NAD = No Acute Distress

NC = Nasal Cannula

NED = No Evidence Of Disease

NG = NasoGastric

NICU = Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NIDDM = Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

NKA = No Known Allergies

NKDA = No Known Drug Allergies

NKDA = Non-ketotic Diabetic Acidosis

NKHC = Non-Ketotic Hyperglycemic Coma

NKHHC = NonKetonic Hyperglycemic-Hyperosmolar Coma

NKMA = No Known Medcation Allergies

NOS = Not Otherwise Specified

NPA = Nasopharyngeal Airway

NPD = Nightly Peritoneal Dialysis

NPO = Nothing By Mouth

NPQ = Not Physically Qualified

NS = Normal Saline (IV)

NSAID = Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug

NSR = Normal Sinus Rythym

NT = NasoTracheal

NTD = Neural Tube Defect

NV = Nausea & Vomiting

NYD = Not Yet Diagnosed

O ⇑ back to top ⇑

O2 = Oxygen

OCP = Oral Contraceptive Pill

OD = Overdose

OD = Right Eye

OGTT = Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

OPA = Oropharyngeal Airway

OPV = Oral Polio Vaccine

ORIF = Open Reduction Internal Fixation

OS = Left Eye

OTC = Over The Counter

OU = Both Eyes

P ⇑ back to top ⇑

PABA = Para-Aminobenzoic Acid

PAD = Peripheral Arterial Disease

PAP = Pulmonary Artery Pressure

PC = After Meals

PCA = Patient Controlled Analgesia

PCN = Penicillin

PCV = Packed Cell Volume

PD = Peritoneal Dialysis

PDA = Patent Ductus Arteriosus

PDD = Pervasive Development Disorder

PDR = Physician's Desk Reference

PE = Pulmonary Edema / Embolism

PEEP = Rositive End Expiratory Pressure

PEG = Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

PEJ = Percutaneous Endoscopic Jejunostomy

PERL = Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive To Light

PERRLA = Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive To Light And Accommodation

PET = Positron Emission Tomography

PFT = Pulmonary Function Test

PG = Prostaglandin

PH.D. = Doctorate Of Philosophy

PH = Concentration Of Hydrogen Ions

PH = Past History

PI = Present Illness

PICC = Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter

PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

PM = ParaMedic

PMHX = Prior/Previous Medical History

PMI = Point Of Maximal Impulse

PMS = Peripheral Motor nervous System

PNB = Pulseless Not Breathing

PND = Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea

PNH = Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

PNS = Peripheral Nervous System

PNV = Prenatal Vitamins

PO2 = Partial Pressure Of O2

PO = By Mouth

PPV = Positive Pressure Ventilation

PR = Per Rectum

PRBC = Packed Red Blood Cells

PRN = As Needed

PS = Pyloric Stenosis

PSA = Prostate Check

PSA = Prostate Specific Antigen

PSVT = Paroxysmal Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia

PT = Physical Therapy

PT = Prothrombin Time

PTCA = Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

PTT = Partial Thromboplastin Time

PUD = Peptic Ulcer Disease

PVD = Peripheral Vascular Disease

PX = Pneumothorax

Q ⇑ back to top ⇑

Q2H = every 2 hours

Q3H = every 3 hours

QAM = every morning

QD = Everyday

QH = once every hour

QHS = at bedtime

QID = Four Times A Day

QNS = Quantity Not Sufficient

QOD = Every Other Day

QPM = Every Evening

QS = Quantity Sufficient

R ⇑ back to top ⇑

RA = Rheumatoid Arthritis

RAD = Reactive Airway Disease

RAI = Radioactive Iodine

RAIU = Radioactive Iodine Uptake

RCA = Right Coronary Artery

RDI = Recommended Daily Intake

RDW = Red Cell Distribution Width

REEDA = Redness

RHD = Rheumatic Heart Disease

RIJ = Right Internal Jugular

RLQ = Right Lower Quadrant

RM = Respiratory Movement

ROM = Range Of Motion

ROS = Review Of Systems

RSC = Right Subclavian

RSR = Regular Sinus Rhythym

RSV = Respiratory Syncitial Virus

RUQ = Right Upper Quadrant

Rx = Prescription

S ⇑ back to top ⇑

S/S = Signs & Symptoms

SAB = Spontaneous Abortion

SABA = Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus

SAED = SemiAutomatic External Defibrillator

SAST = Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase

SB = Spina Bifida

SBO = Small Bowel Obstruction

SC = Subcutaneous

SGPT = Serum Glutamic-pyruvic Transaminase

SLE = Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

SLUD = Salivation

SMO = Standing Medical Orders

SNF = Skilled Nursing Facility

SOB = Shortness Of Breath

SR = Sedimentation Rate

SS = Social Services

ST = Sinus Tachycardia

STD = Sexually Transmitted Disease

STH = Somatotropic Hormone

STM = Short Term Memory

SUI = Stress Urinary Incontinence

SVR = Systemic Vascular Resistance

SVT = Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia

SX = Surgery

SX = Symptoms

SZ = Seizure

T ⇑ back to top ⇑

T&C = Type and Cross of blood

T3 = Triiodothyronine

T4 = Thyroxine

TAB = Tablet

TB = Tuberculosis/Trouble Breathing

TBF = Total Body Failure

TBI = Traumatic Brain Injury

TBSA = Total Body Surface Area

TCDB = Turn, Cough, Deep Breathe

TED = Thrombo-Embolism Deterrent

TEP = Transesophageal Puncture

THR = Total Hip Replacement

TIA = Transient Ischemic Attack

TIBC = Total Iron Binding Capacity

TID = Three Times A Day

TIL = Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes

TIW = three times a week

TKR = Total Knee Replacement

TM = Tympanic Membrane

TNF = Tumor Necrosis Factor

TNM = Tumor, Node, Metastases

TNTC = Too Numerous To Mention

TP = Tuberculin Precipitation

TPA = Tissue Plasminogen Activator

TPN = Total Parenteral Nutrition

TPR = Temperature

TTN = Transient Tachypnea Of The Newborn

TTP = Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura

TUPR = Trans-urethral Prostatic Resection

TUR = Trans-urethral Resection Of The Prostate

TURP = Trans-Urethral Resection Of The Prostate

TWB = Touch Weight Bear

TWE = Tap Water Enema

TX = Treatment

U ⇑ back to top ⇑

UA = Urinalysis

UAO = Upper Airway Obstruction

UBW = Usual Body Weight

UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal

UPJ = Ureteropelvic Junction

URI = Upper Respiratory Infection

URI = URinary Incontinence

US = Ultrasonic

UTI = Urinary Tract Infection

UVJ = Ureterovesical Junction

V ⇑ back to top ⇑

VA = Visual Acuity

VBAC = Vaginal Birth After Caeserean

VFIB = Ventricular Fibrillation

VLDL = Very Low Density Lipoprotein

VMA = Vanillylmandelic Acid

VPB = Ventricular Premature Beat

VPC = Ventricular Premature Contraction

VSA = Vital Signs Absent

VSD = Ventricular Septal Defect

VTACH = Ventricular Tachycardia

VW = Vessel Wall

W ⇑ back to top ⇑

W/C = Wheelchair

WBC = White Blood Cell

WD = Well Developed

WDI = Warm

WHO = World Health Organization

WMA = World Medical Association

WN = Well Nourished

WNL = Within Normal Limits

X ⇑ back to top ⇑

XRT = External Radiation Therapy

Y ⇑ back to top ⇑

Z ⇑ back to top ⇑