Slang & Jargon Flashcards

1
Q

a-fib, A-fib, or AFib

A

Atrial fibrillation (a severe cardiac arrhythmia)

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2
Q

alk phos

A

Alkaline phosphatase (a lab value for a chemical in the blood)

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3
Q

appy

A

Appendectomy or appendicitis (excision of the appendix or infection/inflammation of the appendix)

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4
Q

bicarb

A

Bicarbonate (one of the electrolytes, with sodium, potassium, and chloride)

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5
Q

bili

A

bilirubin (a lab value for liver function testing)

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6
Q

CBC with diff

A

CBC (complete blood count) with differential (the percentages of different types of white cells in the blood).

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7
Q

caps

A

Capsules (a form of medications)

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8
Q

cath

A

Catheter or catheterization (a tube or the placement of tubes in the body).

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9
Q

chemo

A

Chemotherapy (treatment with chemical compounds, usually referring to cancer regimens)

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10
Q

crit

A

Hematocrit (test for packed red cells in the blood)

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11
Q

DC

A

Discontinue or discharge, past tense DC’s sometimes dc/dc’d (acceptable in a clinic or nurse’s note but not in a formal document)

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12
Q

detox

A

Detoxification

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13
Q

dig

A

Digoxin or digitals; pronounced with a short i & g like j (medication for cardiac problems)

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14
Q

dis sesta

A

Dipyridamole sestabmibi (a nuclear x-ray exam)

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15
Q

double J stent

A

JJ stent (surgical device for keeping tubes in place)

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16
Q

echo

A

echocardiogram (record of heart function by analyzing sound waves)

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17
Q

eos

A

Eosinophils (white blood cells that are part of the CBC with differential)

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18
Q

exam

A

Examination

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19
Q

flex sig

A

Flexible sigmoidoscopy (inspection of the sigmoid, the S-shaped lower portion of the colon, with a flexible endoscopic instrument)

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20
Q

Foley

A

Foley catheter (a catheter commonly used during surgical procedures for draining urine from the bladder)

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21
Q

HCTZ

A

Hydrochlorothiazide (a medication for the control of hypertension and edema).

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22
Q

hem/onc

A

Hematology/oncology (the medical specialty that deals with cancer and blood problems)

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23
Q

hep C (A, B)

A

Hepatitis C (A, B) (liver disease characterized by infection and inflammation)

24
Q

K

A

Potassium (the chemical symbol for the element potassium. This is an acceptable usage.)

25
Q

KCl

A

Potassium chloride (the chemical formula for potassium chloride; it is often given to cardiac patients whose potassium is depleted by diuretic medications, such as Lasix. This is an acceptable usage.)

26
Q

lac

A

laceration (a cut produced bu a trauma)

27
Q

lymphs

A

Lymphocytes (another type of white blood cells included in the CBC with differential)

28
Q

lytes

A

Electrolytes (usually sodium, potassium, chloride, & bicarbonate; they are blood chemistries evaluated in laboratory studies)

29
Q

mag

A

Magnesium (a chemical in the blood, also a medication given for some medical conditions, such as alcohol overdose)

30
Q

meds

A

medications (drugs given to patients; pharmacopeia)

31
Q

mets

A

Metastases, singular met/metastasis (the spread of malignant neoplasm-cancer-from the primary site to one or more secondary sites)

32
Q

migs

A

milligrams, written as mg (metric unit of measurement, the most common form of drug dosage)

33
Q

mikes

A

Micrograms, written as mcg (metric unit of measurement smaller than the milligram, also used in some drug dosages)

34
Q

monos

A

Monocytes (white blood cells that are a part of the CBC with differential)

35
Q

nebs

A

Nebulizers (an aerated form of medications given for pulmonary problems such as asthma)

36
Q

neuro

A

Neurological or neurology (referring to the medical specialty or to the part of the physical exam that evaluates neurologic or central nervous system function)

37
Q

neuropsych

A

Neuropsychiatric or neuropsychiatry (pertaining to the study of the combination of neurology and psychiatry - often related, since both study brain function)

38
Q

O2 sat

A

Oxygen saturation (the amount of oxygen present in the blood; measured by pulse oximetry)

39
Q

path

A

Pathology (the study of the essential nature of disease, particularly as it relates to changes in tissue organs, etc. Also the cause of disease)

40
Q

perf

A

perforation (a hole, as in perforated eardrum or perforated bowel)

41
Q

preop

A

preoperative (before an operation). Occasionally, but rarely, a dictator will use the term preopped (alternative spelling preopp’d). This is not really a short form for anything that can reasonably be expanded without rewriting the sentence. It is an example of a slang term that “more accurately communicates meaning” than any possible expansion of it would.

42
Q

postop

A

postoperative (after an operation)

43
Q

prepped

A

prepared (a short form commonly used in surgical reports; e.g., “The patient was prepped and draped”)

44
Q

pulse ox

A

pulse oximetry (the process of determining oxygen saturation by use of machine measurements)

45
Q

regurg

A

regurgitation (flow in the opposite direction from normal, as in vomiting stomach contents or backward flow of the blood through vascular structures)

46
Q

rehab

A

rehabilitation (the process of restoring normal form and function after injury or illness by means of physical, psychosocial, vocational, or recreational activities)

47
Q

sat

A

saturation (a measure of the degree to which oxygen is bound to the hemoglobin in the blood; it is given as a percentage, and reflects pulmonary function)

48
Q

sed rate

A

sedimentation rate (a laboratory value related to the action of red blood cells)

49
Q

segs

A

segmented neutrophils (white blood cells that are part of the CBC differential)

50
Q

t. bili

A

total bilirubin (a bile pigment that is measured in liver functions studies)

51
Q

tabs

A

tablets (a form of medication, pills)

52
Q

triple A

A

abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA, a cardiovascular anomaly)

53
Q

V-tach

A

ventricular tachycardia (an increased ventricular heart rate)

54
Q

voc rehab

A

vocational rehabilitation (rehabilitation for those who need to retrain in a former or new vocation due to illness or injury)

55
Q

chole

A

cholecystectomy (excision of the gallbladder)