medical acronyms

Ever wanted to interpret that requisition your doctor wrote? (Just kidding. Dont' do that)

Here's a list of accepted, frequent, Canadian medical acronyms (case sensitive!):

AAA, "triple A", Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
ABG, Arterial Blood Gases
ac, before meals
ACE, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme
ACL, Anterior Cruciate Ligament
ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
ADH, Antidiuretic Hormone
ADL, activites of daily living
a/e, air entry
AED/AICD, Automated External Defibrillator/Automated Internal Cardiac Defibrillator
AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AKA, above knee amputation
ALP, Alkaline Phosphatase
ALT, Alanine Transaminase
AMA, against medical advice
AMI, acute myocardial infarction (MI is more common)
APE, acute pulmonary embolism (PE is more common)
ARF, acute renal failure
AST, Aspartate Aminotransferase
AVB, atrio-ventricular block
AVR, aortic valve replacement

B
BBB, bundle branch block
BG, blood glucose
BID, twice per day
BM, bowel movement
BMI, body mass index
BP, blood pressure
BPH, benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRP, bathroom privileges
BS, bowel sounds
BSE, breast self-exam
BUN, blood urea nitrogen
BVAD, biventricular assist device
BVP, biventricular pacing

C
C&S, culture and sensitivity
c/o, complaints of
CA, coronary artery
Ca, cancer
CABG, coronary artery bypass graft
CAD, Coronary Artery Disease
CBC, complete blood count
CBI, continuous bladder irrigation
CC, chief complaint
cdiff, Clostridium Difficile
CHF, congestive heart failure (chronic heart failure)
CL, central line
CNS, central nervous system
CO, cardiac output
COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CMO, cardiomyopathy (CM is common also. Sometimes written at DCM or DCMO for dilated cardiomyopathy)
CP, chest pain
CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure
CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRF, chronic renal failure
CSF, Cerebrospinal Fluid
CT, Computed Tomography
CVC, central venous catheter
CVA, Cerebral Vascular Accident
CVP, central venous pressure
Cx, circumflex
CXR, chest x-ray

D
D5W, (IV solution) Dextrose 5% in NS
DAT, diet as tolerated
DB&C, deep breathing & coughing
d/c, discontinue
DIC, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
DKA, Diabetic Ketoacidosis
DCMO, dilated cardiomyopathy
DNR, do not resuscitate (no CPR)
d/t, due to
DVT, deep vein thrombosis
Dx, diagnosis

E
ECG, electrocardiogram (aka, EKG)
EEG, electroencephalogram
EENT, ear eye nose throat
EF, ejection fraction
ER, emergency room
ET, endotracheal tube
EtOH, alcohol

F
FHx, family history
FHR, fetal heart rate
FUO, fever with an unknown origin
FVD, fluid volume deficit
Fx/#, fracture (# more common)

G
GERD, gastroesophageal reflux
GFR, glomerular filtration rate
GGT, gamma glutamyl transferase
GI, gastrointestinal
GU, genitourinary

H
Hgb, hemoglobin
HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin
HCT, hematocrit
HD, hemodialysis
HDL, high density lipoprotein
HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HR, heart rate
HRT, hormone replacement therapy
HS, at bedtime
HTN, hypertension
Hx, history

I
IBD, inflammatory bowel disease
ICP, intracranial pressure
ID, infectious diseases
IDDM, insulin dependent diabetes
IM, intramuscular
INR, International Normalization Ratio
ITP, Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
IV, intravenous
IVDU, intravenous drug user

J
JVD/P, jugular vein distension/pressure

K
K+/K, potassium
KCL, potassium chloride
KVO/TKVO, keep vein open/to keep vein open

L
LAD, left anterior decending
LCA, left coronary artery
LBBB, left bundle branch block
LDL, low density lipoprotein
LFT, liver function test
LLQ, left lower quadrant
LMP, last menstral period
LSC, left subclavian
LUQ, left upper quadrant
LV, left ventricle
LVAD, left ventricular assist device
LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction

M
MAP, mean arterial pressure
MAR, medication record
MCL, modified chest lead
MV, multivitamin
MI, myocardial infarction
MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRSA, methicillan resistant staph.aureus
MS, Morphine
MVR, mitral valve replacement

N
Na, sodium
NaCl, sodium chloride
NG, nasogastric
NICU, neonatal intensive care
NIDDM, non-insulin dependent diabetes
NKA, no known allergies
NKDA, no known drug allergies
NFA, no known food allergies
NPO, nothing by mouth
NP, nasal prongs
NS, normal saline
NSAID, non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug
NSR, normal sinus rhythm (RSR more common)
N/V, nausea/vomitting
NYD, not yet diagnosed

O
o2, oxygen
o/e, on exam (OP more common)
OD, right eye
od, once daily (qd more legal)
O&P, ova and parasites
ORIF, open reduction and internal fixation
OS, left eye
OU, both eyes

P
PAC, premature atrial contraction
PCA, Patient Controlled Analgesia
PCI, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
PD, peritoneal dialysis
PE, pulmonary embolism
PEA, pulseless electrical activity
PFT, pulmonary function test
PICC, peripherally inserted central catheter
PID, pelivc inflammatory disease
pmHx, past medical history
PMS, premenstral syndrome
ppm, permanent pacemaker
PO, by mouth
PR, per rectum
PRBC, packed red blood cells
PT, prothrombin time
PTT, parital thomboplastin time
PVC, premature ventricular contraction
PVD, peripheral vascular disease

Q
qd, every day/once daily
qid, four times a day

R
RAD, reactive airway disease
RCA, right coronary artery
RLQ, right lower quadrant
ROM, range of motion
RSC, right subclavian
RSR, regular sinus rhythm (same as NSR)
RUQ, right upper quadrant
RVAD, right ventricular assist device
Rx/rx, prescription

S
SC, subcutaneous
SCA, subcutaneous coronary angiogram
SOB, shortness of breath
SOBOE, short of breath on exertion
ST, sinus tachycardia
SVT, supraventricular tachycardia

T
T4, throxine
TB, tuberculosis
TBI, traumatic brain injury
THR, total hip replacement
TIA, trasient ishcemic attack
TID, three times a day
TKR, total knee replacement
TPN, total parenteral nutrition
TUPR, transurethral prostate resection
Tx, treatment

U
UA, urinalysis (u/a more common)
URI, upper respiratory infection
US, ultrasound
UTI, urinary tract infection

V
VAD, ventricular assist device
VBAC, vaginal birth after cesarian
VF, ventricular fibrillation
VRE, vancomycin resistant enterococci
VS, vital sings
VSSA, vital signs stable afebrile
VT, ventricular tachycardia

W
WBC, white blood cell
WNL, within normal limits

X, Y, Z