Basic Medical Abbreviations

Question 1

AAA

Answer 1

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

What: Blood-filled bulge in the aorta that runs through the abdomen.

Question 2

A Fib

Answer 2

Atrial Fibrillation

What: Irregular and often rapid heart rate.

Question 3

Abd

Answer 3

Abdomen, Abdominal

Question 4

Abx

Answer 4

Antibiotics

Question 5

AMA

Answer 5

Against Medical Advice

Question 6

AMS

Answer 6

Altered Mental Status

Question 7

ASA

Answer 7

Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)

ace-tyl-sal-i-cyl-ic

Question 8

BID

Answer 8

Twice Daily

Question 9

Bilat LE

Answer 9

Bilateral lower extremities

Question 10

BM

Answer 10

Bowel Movement

Question 11

BP

Answer 11

Blood pressure

Question 12

CA

Answer 12

Cancer, Carcinoma

Question 13

CABG

Answer 13

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, “open heart surgery”

Question 14

CAD

Answer 14

Coronary Artery Disease, “heart disease”

Question 15

CT or CAT

Answer 15

Computerized Assisted Tomography

Question 16

CHF

Answer 16

Congestive heart failure

Question 17

COPD

Answer 17

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Question 18

CP

Answer 18

Chest pain

Question 19

CPR

Answer 19

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Question 20

C-section

Answer 20

Caesarean section

Question 21

C-spine

Answer 21

Cervical spine (neck)

Question 22

CSF

Answer 22

Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 23

CVA

Answer 23

Cerebrovascular accident -or- costovertebral angle

Question 24

CXR

Answer 24

Chest X-Ray

Question 25

c/o

Answer 25

Complains of

Question 26

DKA

Answer 26

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Question 27

DM

Answer 27

Diabetes Mellitus

Question 28

DNR

Answer 28

Do not resuscitate

Question 29

DOE

Answer 29

Dyspnea on exertion

Question 30

DVT

Answer 30

Deep vein thrombosis

Question 31

Dx

Answer 31

Diagnosis

Question 32

Dz

Answer 32

Disease

Question 33

EKG/ECG

Answer 33

Echocardiogram

Question 34

EtOH

Answer 34

Alcohol

Question 35

FHx

Answer 35

Family history

Question 36

Fx

Answer 36

Fracture

Question 37

GI

Answer 37

Gastrointestinal

Question 38

G/P/Ab

Answer 38

Gravida/ Para/ Abortion

Question 39

GSW

Answer 39

Gun shot wound

Question 40

GU

Answer 40

Genitourinary

Question 41

HA

Answer 41

Headache

Question 42

HEENT

Answer 42

Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat

Question 43

HPI

Answer 43

History of present illness

Question 44

HTN

Answer 44

Hypertension

Question 45

Hx

Answer 45

History

Question 46

H&H

Answer 46

Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

Question 47

H&P

Answer 47

History of present illness and physical exam

Question 48

I&D

Answer 48

Incision and Drainage

Question 49

IDDM

Answer 49

Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Question 50

IUP

Answer 50

Intrauterine Pregnancy

Question 51

IVDA

Answer 51

IV Drug Abuse

Question 52

JVD

Answer 52

Jugular Vein Distension

Question 53

LLE

Answer 53

Left Lower Extremity

Question 54

LLQ

Answer 54

Left Lower Quadrant

Question 55

LNMP

Answer 55

Last Normal Menstrual Period

Question 56

LOC

Answer 56

Loss of Consciousness

Question 57

LP

Answer 57

Lumbar Puncture

Question 58

L-spine

Answer 58

Lumbar Spine

Question 59

LUE

Answer 59

Left Upper Extremity

Question 60

LUQ

Answer 60

Left Upper Quadrant

Question 61

MCA

Answer 61

Motorcycle Accident

Question 62

MI

Answer 62

Myocardial Infarction

Question 63

MVA/MVC

Answer 63

Motor. Whichever Accident/ Collision

Question 64

N/A

Answer 64

Not Applicable

Question 65

NAD

Answer 65

No Acute Distress, No Acute Disease

Question 66

NIDDM

Answer 66

Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Question 67

NKDA

Answer 67

No Known Drug Allergies

Question 68

Nml-or- nl

Answer 68

Normal

Question 69

NSAID

Answer 69

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

Question 70

NSR

Answer 70

Normal Sinus Rhythm

Question 71

NTG

Answer 71

Nitroglycerin

Question 72

N/V/D

Answer 72

Nausea/ Vomiting/ Diarrhea

Question 73

O2 Sat

Answer 73

Oxygen Saturation (a.k.a. SaO2)

Question 74

OD

Answer 74

Overdose

Question 75

PCP

Answer 75

Primary Care Physician (a.k.a. PMD)

Question 76

PE

Answer 76

Pulmonary Embolism-or- Physical exam

Question 77

PERRL

Answer 77

Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light

Question 78

PO

Answer 78

Per Os (by mouth)

Question 79

prn

Answer 79

As needed

Question 80

pt

Answer 80

Patient

Question 81

PTA

Answer 81

Prior To Arrival

Question 82

PUD

Answer 82

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Question 83

qd

Answer 83

Every day

Question 84

qh

Answer 84

Every hour

Question 85

qhs

Answer 85

Every bedtime

Question 86

q2h

Answer 86

Every 2 hours

Question 87

QID

Answer 87

Four times a day

Question 88

RLE

Answer 88

Right lower extremity

Question 89

RLQ

Answer 89

Right lower quadrant

Question 90

ROM

Answer 90

Range of motion

Question 91

ROS

Answer 91

Review of system

Question 92

RUE

Answer 92

Right upper extremity

Question 93

RUQ

Answer 93

Right upper quadrant

Question 94

Rx

Answer 94

Prescription

Question 95

r/o

Answer 95

Rule out

Question 96

SOB

Answer 96

Shortness of breath

Question 97

s/p

Answer 97

Status post (after)

Question 98

Sx

Answer 98

Symptoms

Question 99

TIA

Answer 99

Transient Ischemic Attack

Question 100

TID

Answer 100

Three times a day

Question 101

TM

Answer 101

Tympanic Membrane

Question 102

T-spine

Answer 102

Thoracic spine

Question 103

Tx

Answer 103

Treatment

Question 104

UA

Answer 104

Urinalysis

Question 105

URI

Answer 105

Upper Respiratory Infection

Question 106

US

Answer 106

Ultrasound

Question 107

UTD

Answer 107

Up to date

Question 108

UTI

Answer 108

Urinary tract infection

Question 109

WNL

Answer 109

Within Normal Limits