1
Q
A & O
A
Alert and oriented
2
Q
a.c.
A
Before meals
3
Q
a.d.
A
Right ear
4
Q
a.s.
A
Left ear
5
Q
a.u.
A
Each ear
6
Q
ABG
A
Arterial blood gas
7
Q
ACE
A
Angiotensin converting enzyme
8
Q
ACTH
A
Adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticotropin
9
Q
ad lib
A
As tolerated
10
Q
ADH
A
Antidiuretic hormone
11
Q
ADL
A
Activities of daily living
12
Q
Afib
A
Atrial fibrillation
13
Q
AIDS
A
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
14
Q
ALT
A
Alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT)
15
Q
APAP
A
Acetaminophen
16
Q
ASHD
A
Atherosclerotic heart disease
17
Q
ASPVD
A
Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease
18
Q
AST
A
Aspartate aminotransferase (formerly SGOT)
19
Q
AV
A
Atrioventricular
20
Q
b.i.d.
A
Twice a day
21
Q
BMI
A
Body mass index
22
Q
BP
A
Blood pressure
23
Q
BPH
A
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
24
Q
bpm
A
Beats per minute
25
BSA
Body surface area
26
BUN
Blood urea nitrogen
27
C & S
Culture and sensitivity
28
Bx
Biopsy
29
C/O
Complains of
30
CA
Cancer, carcinoma
31
Ca
Calcium
32
CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft
33
CAD
Coronary artery disease
34
CATH
Catheter, catheterization
35
CBC
Complete blood count
36
CC
Chief complaint
37
CCE
Clubbing, cyanosis, and edema
38
CHEM
Serum chemistry (as in laboratory orders)
39
CHF
Congestive heart failure
40
Cl
Chloride, chlorine
41
CNS
Central nervous system
42
CO
Carbon monoxide, cardiac output
43
CO2
Carbon dioxide
44
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
45
CPK
Creatine phosphokinase
46
CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid
47
CT
Computed tomography (scan)
48
CTA
Clear to auscultation
49
CV
Cardiovascular
50
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident
51
CXR
Chest X-Ray
52
DIFF, diff
Differential blood count
53
DM
Diabetes mellitus
54
DOE
Dyspnea on exertion
55
DW
Dextrose in water
56
DX, Dx, dx
Diagnosis
57
ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram
58
EGD
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
59
ENT
Ear, nose, throat
60
ESR
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
61
FH
Family history
62
FSBS
Finger stick blood sugar
63
FUO
Fever of unknown origin
64
FUP
Follow-up
65
G, g, gm
Gram
66
GERD
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
67
GFR
Glomerular filtration rate
68
GI
Gastrointestinal
69
gr
Grain
70
GTT
Drops
71
GU
Genitourinary
72
GYN, gyn
Gynecology
73
H/O, h/o
History of
74
HA
Headache
75
Hb, Hgb
Hemoglobin
76
HbA1c
Glycosylated hemoglobin/Hemoglobin A1c
77
HCG
Human chorionic gonadotropin
78
HCO3
Bicarbonate
79
HCT
Hematocrit
80
HDL
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol
81
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Human Immunodeficiency Virus
82
HLA
Human leukocyte antigen
83
HPI
History of present illness
84
HR
Heart rate
85
HRT
Hormone replacement Hormone replacement therapy
86
HS, h.s.
bedtime
87
HSM
Hepatosplenomegaly
88
Hx
History
89
I&O, I/O
Intake (input) and output
90
I.M., IM
Intramuscular
91
I.V., IV
Intravenous
92
ICS
Intercostal space
93
ID
Intradermal
94
IMP
Impression
95
INR
International Normalized Ratio
96
IPPB
Intermittent positive-pressure breathing
97
IU
International unit
98
IVP
Intravenous pyelogram
99
IVPB
Intravenous piggyback
100
JVD
Jugular venous distension
101
K
Potassium
102
kcal
Kilocalorie
103
Kg
Kilogram
104
KUB
Kidneys, ureters, and Kidneys, ureters, and bladder
105
KVO
Keep vein open (hourly rate of IV fluid
| administration)
106
L
Liter
107
LAD
Left anterior descending (coronary artery)
108
LDH
Lactate dehydrogenase
109
LDL
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
110
LFT
Liver function test
111
LUQ
Left upper quadrant
112
LV
Left ventricle
113
M.R.
May repeat
114
mcg
Microgram
115
MCV
Mean corpuscular volume
116
MDI
Metered dose inhaler
117
mEq
Millequivalent
118
Mg
Magnesium
119
mg
Milligram
120
MI
Myocardial infarction
121
ml
Milliliter
122
mm
Millimeter
123
mM
Millimole
124
mmHg
Millimeters of Mercury
125
mOsm
Milliosmole
126
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
127
MS
Multiple sclerosis, morphine sulfate
128
MW
Molecular weight
129
N.R.
Do not repeat, no repeats
130
N/V/D
Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
131
Na
Sodium
132
NABS
Normoactive bowel sounds
133
NaCl
Sodium chloride
134
NG Tube
Nasogastric Tube
135
NKA
No known allergies
136
NKDA
No known drug allergies
137
NMT
Not more than
138
NPO
Nothing by mouth
139
NS
Normal saline
140
NTG
Nitroglycerin
141
o.d.
Right eye
142
o.l., o.s.
Left eye
143
o.u.
Both eyes
144
OTC
Over the counter
145
P
Phosphorus, pulse
146
p.c.
After meals
147
P.O., po
By mouth
148
p.r.n.
As needed, when necessary
149
PE
Physical exam, pulmonary embolism
150
PERRLA
Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and
| accommodation
151
pH
Hydrogen ion concentration
152
PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease
153
PMH
Past medical history
154
PND
Paroxysmal nocturnal Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
155
PPD
```
Purified protein derivative (tuberculin), Packs
per day (cigarettes)
```
156
PT
Physical therapy
157
PT, Pro Time
Prothrombin time
158
PTCA
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
159
PTH
Parathyroid hormone
160
PTT
Partial thromboplastin time (also aPTT)
161
PUD
Peptic ulcer disease
162
PVC
Premature ventricular contraction
163
Q, q.
Every
164
q.d.
Every day
165
q.i.d.
Four times a day
166
q.o.d.
Every other day
167
q.s., qs.
A quantity sufficient
168
R
Respirations
169
R/O
Rule out
170
RA
Rheumatoid arthritis
171
RBC
Red blood cell
172
RCA
Right coronary artery
173
RLQ
Right lower quadrant
174
ROM
Range of motion (of joint)
175
ROS
Review of systems
176
RRR
Regular rate and rhythm (heart)
177
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
178
Rx
Prescription symbol
179
S&S, s/sx
Signs and symptoms
180
S.C., SQ,
| subq
Subcutaneous
181
S/P
Status post (occurrence)
182
SaO2
Systemic arterial oxygen saturation (%)
183
SG
Specific gravity
184
SGOT
Serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (see
| AST)
185
SGPT
Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (see ALT)
186
SH
Social history, surgical history
187
SIADH
Syndrome of inappropriate ADH
188
Sig.
Write on label (patient instructions)
189
SL
Sublingual
190
SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus
191
SOAP
Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
192
SOB
Short of breath
193
stat
Immediately
194
STD
Sexually transmitted disease
195
Sx, sx
Symptoms
196
T
Thoracic, followed by number of thoracic
| vertebra (T-2)
197
t.a.t.
Until all taken
198
t.i.d.
Three times a day
199
t.i.w.
Three times a week
200
Tabs
Tablets
201
TB
Tuberculosis
202
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
203
TIBC
Total iron-binding capacity
204
TKO
To keep open (hourly rate of IV fluids to keep
| vein open)
205
TPA
Tissue plasminogen activator
206
TPN
Total parenteral nutrition
207
TPR
Total peripheral resistance
208
TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
209
TX, Tx
Treatment, therapy
210
UA
Urinalysis
211
URI
Upper respiratory infection
212
UTI
Urinary tract infection
213
Vfib
Ventricular fibrillation
214
VS
Vital signs
215
VT, Vtach
Ventricular tachycardia
216
w.a.
While awake
217
W/U
Work up
218
WBC
White blood cell
219
WDWN
Well developed, well nourished
220
WNL
Within normal limits
221
y/o, yo
Year old
