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Medical Abbreviations
SYMBOL MEANING
" seconds
' minutes
Ø (^) decreased
↑ (^) increased
= (^) equal
(^) greater than
< (^) less than
D change
° hours
x dash^ above^ any^ symbol
indicates a mean value
x dot^ above^ any^ symbol
indicates a timed event
a before
a b d a b d o m e n
ABG arterial blood gas
ac before meals
ad lib as needed
A F B acid-fast bacillus
A M aerosol mask
amt amount
anat anatomical
ant anterior
approx approximately
A V atrioventricular
bid twice daily
B P blood pressure
B / S breath sounds
B U N blood urea nitrogen
Bx, bx biopsy
C Centigrade, Celsius
C compliance
C concentration, content
C & S culture & sensitivity
c with
C A cancer
C B C complete blood count
cc c m 3
C C U Coronary Care Unit
Cdyn dynamic compliance
cl clear
cm centimeter
cmH 2 O cm water pressure
C N S central nervous system
CO 2 carbon dioxide
C O P D chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
C P P D chest percussion &
postural drainage
C P T chest physiotherapy
C S F cerebral spinal fluid
CSt static compliance
C T A clear to auscultation
C V cardiovascular
C V P central venous pressure
CXR chest x-ray
D C discontinue
D O B date of birth
Dx, dx diagnosis
ECG (EKG) electrocardiogram
E R emergency room
e t a n d
E T T endotracheal tube
F Fahrenheit, gas conc. as a
decimal
f frequency
FIO 2 fraction of inspired O 2
F O B foot of bed
Fx, fx fracture
g gram
GI gastrointestinal
g t t drop
H & H hemoglobin & hematocrit
h hour
H 2 O water
H C M high concentration mask
Hct hematocrit
H g mercury
H g b hemoglobin
H H N hand-held nebulizer
H O B head of bed
h s at bedtime
h x history
I & O intake and output
ICU Intensive Care Unit
IM intramuscular
inf inferior
I P P B intermittent positive
pressure breathing
I S incentive spirometer
I V intravenous
k g kilogram
L, l liter, left
L/min, lpm liters per minute
lat lateral
l b pound
L L L left lower lobe
L M S B left mainstem bronchus
L U L left upper lobe
m meter
m e d medial
m E q milliequivalent
mg milligram
min minute
ml milliliter
M L T minimal leak technique
mm millimeter
mmHg millimeters of mercury
M O V minimal occlusion vol.
N C nasal cannula
n o number
n o c night
N P O nothing by mouth
N R B nonrebreathing bag
N T nasotracheal
O 2 oxygen
O R operating room
p pulse
P partial pressure
p (^) after
PaCO 2 arterial CO 2 partial
pressure
PaO 2 arterial O 2 partial pressure
PACO 2 alveolar CO 2 partial
pressure
PAO 2 alveolar O 2 partial
pressure
P A P pulmonary artery pressure
p c after meals
P D postural drainage
P E A R L pupils equal & reactive to
light
P O pulse oximeter
p. o. by mouth
post posterior
postop postoperative
p r e o p preoperative
prn as needed
psi pounds per square inch
p t patient
P T physical therapy
S T P D standard temperature and
pressure, dry
T tidal
v vein, venous
v mixed^ venous
example:
VT
CL
tidal volume
lung compliance
PULMONARY FUNCTION
E R V expiratory reserve volume
F E F forced expiratory flow
F E V forced expiratory volume
FEV.5 forced exp. volume (in .5 sec.)
FEV 1 forced exp. volume (in 1 sec.)
FEV 3 forced exp. volume (in 3 sec.)
F R C functional residual capacity
F V C forced vital capacity
IC inspiratory capacity
I R V inspiratory reserve volume
I V C inspiratory vital capacity
M V V max. voluntary ventilation
NIF negative inspiratory force
N I P negative inspiratory pressure
P E F R peak expiratory flow rate
R V residual volume
T L C total lung capacity
V C vital capacity
V D physiologic dead space
VDanat anatomical dead space
VD A alveolar dead space
VT tidal volume
