Abbreviations

95

Chapter 10

Abbreviations

UTMB, all classes, 1895.

Courtesy of the Blocker History of Medicine Collection, Moody Medical Library, UTMB,

Galveston

What’s Inside:

UTMB Approved Abbreviations

UTMB Prohibited Abbreviations

Abbreviations

96

If abbreviations are not found in this list refer to the abbreviations book titled: Medical
Abbreviations: 24,000 Conveniences 11

th

Edition by Neil M. Davis, available at the

UTMB Bookstore.

A

A .............abortus
aa ............amino acids
ab............abortion
abd .........abdomen
ABD ........abduction
ABG ........arterial blood gas
abn..........abnormal
ABR ........auditory brainstem response
Abx .........antibiotics
ac ............before meals (ante cibum)
accom.....accommodation
ACTH ......adrenocorticotropic

hormone

AD...........right ear (auris dextra)
ADD ........adduction
ADH ........antidiuretic hormone
ADL.........activities of daily living
ad lib .......as desired (ad libitum)
AFI ..........amniotic fluid index
AFP .........alpha fetoprotein
AFB .........acid fast bacilli
A/G..........albumin to globulin ratio
AGA ........appropriate for gestational

age

AIDS .......acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome

AKA.........above knee amputation
alb...........albumin
ALL .........acute lymphocytic leukemia
alk phos ..alkaline phosphatase
ALT .........alanine amino transaminase
AMA .......against medical advice
AML ........acute myelogenous

leukemia

AMNIO ...amniocentesis
amp ........ampule
ant ..........anterior
ant seg....anterior segment
A&O ........alert and oriented
A&P .........anterior and posterior
AODM ....adult onset diabetes mellitus
APAP ......acetaminophen
ARC ........AIDS related complex
ARDS ......adult respiratory distress

syndrome

aROM .....active range of motion
AROM.....artificial rupture of

membranes

ASA.........acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

ASAP...... as soon as possible
ASCVD ... arteriosclerotic

cardiovascular disease

ASD........ atrial septal defect
ASO ....... antistreptolysin O
AST ........ aspartate amino

transaminase ATN

........ acute tubular necrosis AU
.......... both ears
A/V ......... arteriovenous ratio
AV node . atrioventricular node

B

BAL ........ bronchoscopy and lavage
BBT ........ basal body temperature
BBU ....... blocker burn unit
BCG ....... bacille calmette gurin
BCLS ...... basic cardiac life support
BE .......... barium enema
bid.......... twice a day
bilat ........ bilateral
bili .......... bilirubin
BKA ........ below knee amputation
BM ......... bowel movement
BPD........ bronchopulmonary

dysplasia

BPH........ benign prostatic

hypertrophy

BPP ........ biophysical profile
BTL ....... bilateral tubal ligation
BUN ....... blood urea nitrogen
BX .......... biopsy

C

CA .......... cancer
CABG ..... coronary artery bypass

graft

CAD ....... coronary artery disease
CAPD ..... chronic ambulatory

peritoneal dialysis

caps ....... capsule
cath ........ catheter, catheterized
CBC........ complete blood count
CC .......... chief complaint
CCU ....... coronary care unit
CEA ........ carcinoembryonic antigen

Abbreviations

97

CF ...........cystic fibrosis
CHD ........congenital heart disease
CHF.........congestive heart failure
CHI..........closed head injury
CHO ........carbohydrate
chol.........cholesterol
CHTN ......chronic hypertension
CIDC .......chronically ill and disabled

children

CMC .......carpometacarpal
CMG .......cystometrogram
CML ........chronic myelogenous

leukemia

CMV........cytomegalovirus
CNS ........central nervous system
CN...........cranial nerves
c/o...........complains of
c/w..........consistent with
CO ..........cardiac output
CODF ......continuous oral/duodenal

feeding

COGF ......continuous oral/gastric

feeding

COPD......chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease

CP ...........cerebral palsy
CPAP ......continuous positive airway

pressure

CPC.........clinicopathologic conference
CPK .........creatinine phosphokinase
CPS .........child protective services
CPT .........chest physiotherapy
C/S ..........cesarean section
C&S .........culture and sensitivity
CSF .........cerebrospinal fluid
CT ...........computerized tomography
ctxn.........contractions
CTA .........clear to auscultation
CVA.........cerebrovascular accident
CVL .........central venous line
CVP .........central venous pressure
CVS .........chronic villus sampling
CWS .......continuous wall suction
CXR.........chest x-ray

D

D&C.........dilation and curettage
D/C..........discontinue
decel.......deceleration
DI ............diabetes insipidus
diam .......diameter
DIP ..........distal interphalangeal
disch .......discharge

dlnmp .... date last normal menstrual

period

DM ......... diabetes mellitus
DOE ....... dyspnea on exertion
DPT ........ diphtheria, pertussis,

tetanus

DSE ........ dobutamine stress
echo DTRs ...... deep tendon
reflexes DTs ........ delirium
tremens
D5NS ..... 5% glucose in

normal saline

D5W....... 5% glucose in water

E

EAC ........ external auditory canal
EBL ........ estimated blood loss
ECG........ electrocardiogram
ECMO .... extracorporeal membrane

oxygenation

ECT ........ electroconvulsive therapy
EDC........ estimated date of

confinement

EEP ........ end expiratory pressure
EF .......... ejection fraction
EFW ....... estimated fetal weight
EGD ....... esophago-gastro-

duodenoscopy

ELISA ..... enzyme linked

immunosorbent assay

elix ......... elixir
EMG....... electromyogram
EOG ....... electrooculogram
EOM ...... extra ocular movements
ERCP...... endoscopic retrograde

cholangio-
pancreatography

ERG........ electroretinogram
ERV ........ expiratory reserve volume
ESR ........ erythrocyte sedimentation

rate

ESRD ..... end stage renal disease
ESWL ..... extra corporeal shock wave

lithotripsy

etiol ........ etiology
ETT......... endotracheal tube
EUA........ examination under

anesthesia

exp lap ... exploratory laparotomy
ext .......... external

Abbreviations

98

F

FBS .........fasting blood sugar
FDP.........fibrin degradation product
FF............filtration fraction
fh ............fundal height
FHR.........fetal heart rate
FHT .........fetal heart tones
FiO

2

.........fraction of inspired oxygen

fm ...........fetal movement
FOBT ......fecal occult blood test
FRC.........functional residual capacity
FSBG ......fingerstick blood glucose
FSH .........follicle stimulating hormone
FTA-Abs ..fluorescent treponema

antibody absorption

FTT..........failure to thrive
FUO ........fever of unknown origin
FVC .........forced vital capacity
fx.............fracture

G

G .............gravid
GC...........gonorrhea
GFR.........glomerular filtration rate
GH ..........growth hormone
gr ............grain
GSW .......gunshot wound
GT ...........gastric tube
GTT .........glucose tolerance test
gtts .........drops
GVH ........graft versus host
G6PD ......glucose-6-phosphate

dehydrogenase

H

HbsAG ....hepatitis B surface antigen
HC...........head circumference
HCG ........human chorionic

gonadotropin

Hct ..........hematocrit
HDL ........high density lipoprotein
H&E .........hematoxylin and eosin
hep-lock ..heparin lock
H&H ........hemoglobin and hematocrit
5-HIAA ....5-hydroxyIndoleacetic acid
HL ...........hearing level
HMD .......hyaline membrane disease
HO ..........house officer
HPF .........high power field
HPI ..........history of present illness

HPL ........ human placental lactogen
HSV ........ herpes simplex virus
HTLV-III .. human T-cell lymphotropic

virus-III

HTN........ hypertension
HZV ........ herpes zoster virus

I

ICD-9-CM international class. Of

diseases 9

th

ed,

clinical modification

ICH ......... intracranial hemorrhage
ICS ......... intercostal space
I&D ......... incision and drainage
ID ........... infectious disease
IDDM ..... insulin-dependent diabetes

mellitus

IDV ......... intermittent demand

ventilation

IEP ......... immunoelectrophoresis
Ig............ immunoglobulin
IM .......... intramuscularly
Imp ........ impression
IMV ........ intermittent mandatory

ventilation

INH......... isoniazid
inj ........... injection
I&O ......... intake and output
IOP ......... intraocular pressure
IPPB ....... intermittent positive

pressure breathing

IRV ......... inspiratory reserve volume
ITP.......... idiopathic

thrombocytopenic purpura

IU ........... international unit
IUFD....... intrauterine fetal demise
IUP ......... intrauterine pregnancy
IUPM...... intrauterine pressure

monitor

IV............ intravenous
IVC ......... inspiratory vital capacity
IVP ......... intravenous pyelogram
IVPB ....... intravenous piggyback

J

JODM .... juvenile onset

diabetes mellitus

JP ........... jackson-pratt
JRA ........ juvenile

rheumatoid
arthritis

JVD ........ jugular venous distention

Abbreviations

99

JVP .........jugular venous pressure

K

KUB ........kidney, ureter, bladder
Kv............kilovolt

L

la .............left atrium
L&A .........light and accommodation
LAD.........left axis deviation
LADC ......left anterior descending

coronary

LAE .........left atrial enlargement
LAL .........left axillary line
LAO ........left anterior oblique
LAP .........leukocyte alkaline

phosphatase

lap...........laparotomy
lat............lateral
LBBB ......left bundle branch block
LCM ........left costal margin
LD ...........lethal dose
LDH ........lactic dehydrogenase LE
...........lower extremity
LGA.........large for gestational age
LH ...........luteinizing hormone
LKS .........liver, kidneys, spleen
LLE .........left lower extremity
LLL..........left lower lobe
LLQ .........left lower quadrant
LMP ........last menstrual period
LP ...........lumbar puncture
LPF .........low power field
lpm .........liters per minute
LR ...........lactated ringers
L/S ..........lecithin to sphingomyelin

ratio

LUE .........left upper extremity
LUL .........left upper lobe
LUQ ........left upper quadrant
LV ...........left ventricle
LVEDP ....left ventricular end diastolic

pressure

LVH .........left ventricular hypertrophy

M

MAO .......monoamine oxidase
MAP........mean arterial pressure

MAS ....... meconium

aspiration syndrome

MCH ...... mean corpuscular

hemoglobin

MCHC .... mean corpuscular

hemoglobin concentration

MCP ....... metacarpophalangeal
MCV ....... mean corpuscular volume
MEq ....... milliequivalent
Mev........ million electron volts
MI .......... myocardial infarction
MMPI ..... minnesota multiphasic

personality inventory

MMR...... measles, mumps, rubella

vaccine

MOM ..... milk of magnesia
6-MP ...... 6-mercaptopurine
MP ......... metacarpophalangeal
MPV ....... mean platelet volume
MSAFP... maternal serum alpha feto

protein

MSL ....... midsternal line
MTP ....... metatarsophalangeal
MTX ....... methotrexate
MV ......... minute ventilation
MVC ....... motor vehicle crash
MX ......... maxilla

N

NAD ....... no apparent distress
NEC........ necrotizing enterocolitis
NG.......... nasogastric
NIDDM... non-insulin dependent

Diabetes mellitus

NIP ......... negative inspiratory

pressure

NL .......... normal
NM ......... neuromuscular
nm ......... nanometer
NP .......... nasopharyngeal
NPO ....... nothing by mouth
NR .......... nonreactive
NS .......... normal saline
NSA........ no significant abnormality
NST ........ non-stress test
NSVD ..... normal spontaneous

vaginal delivery

NT .......... nasotracheal
NTS ........ nasotracheal suction
N&V ........ nausea and vomiting
NVD ....... neovascularization of the

disc

nvd ......... neck venous distention

Abbreviations

100

O

O

2

sat......oxygen saturation

OBV ........observation
OCA ........oral contraceptive agent
OCG ........oral cholecystogram
OCT ........oxytocin challenge test
OD ..........right eye
OM .........otitis media
OMFS .....oral and maxillofacial surgery
O&P.........ova and parasites
OPV ........oral polio vaccine
OS...........left eye OT
...........occupational therapy
OTC ........over the counter OTT
.........orotracheal tube
OU ..........both eyes

P

P .............pulse
P .............para
PA ...........posteroranterior
PAC.........premature atrial contraction
Pap .........papanicolaou smear
PAT .........paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
PAWP .....pulmonary artery wedge

pressure

PBI ..........protein bound iodine
pc............after meals
PCA.........patient controlled analgesia

PCI ..........percutaneous coronary

intervention

PCV .........packed cell volume
PCWP .....precapillary wedge pressure
PDA ........patent ductus arterious
PEEP .......positive end expiratory

pressure

PERRLA ..pupils equal, round, reactive

to light and
accommodation

PI ............present illness
PICU .......pediatric intensive care unit
PID ..........pelvic inflammatory disease
PIH ..........pregnancy induced

hypertension

PIP ..........proximal interphalangeal
PIV ..........peripheral intravenous
PKU.........phenylketonuria
PMH .......past medical history
PMI .........point of maximal impulse
PMN .......polymorphonuclear cells
................(neutrophils)
POD ........post op day

P/P ......... postpartum
PPD ........ purified protein

derivative tuberculin

PPS ........ postpartum sterilization
PROM .... premature rupture of

membranes

PSVT ...... paroxysmal

supraventricular
tachycardia

PTA ........ prior to admission
PTCA ...... percutaneous transluminal

coronary angioplasty

PTL......... preterm labor
PT........... prothrombin
PTT......... partial thromboplastin time
PVC ........ premature

ventricular
contractions

Q

q............. every
q am....... every morning
qd........... every day
qh........... every hour
q 2h........ every 2 hours
qhs ......... every night
qid.......... four times a day
qns ......... quantity not sufficient
qod ........ every other day
q pm ...... every evening
qs ........... quantity sufficient
qt ........... quart

R

R ............ respiration
RA .......... right atrium
RAE ........ right atrial enlargement
RAO ....... right anterior oblique
RBBB ..... right bundle branch block
RCM....... right costal margin
RDW ...... red cell distribution width
REM ....... rapid eye movements
Retic ...... reticulocytes
RHF ........ right heart failure
Rh .......... rhesus factor
RIA ......... radioimmune assay
RLE ........ right lower extremity
RLL ........ right lower lobe
RLQ........ right lower quadrant
RML ....... right middle lobe
ROM ...... range of motion
ROP ...... retinopathy of prematurity

Abbreviations

101

RPR.........rapid plasma reagin
RRR ........regular, rate & rhythm
RTC.........return to clinic
RUE ........right upper extremity
RUL.........right upper lobe
RUQ ........right upper quadrant
RV ...........right ventricle
RVH ........right ventricle hypertrophy
Rx ...........prescription

S

SG ...........specific gravity
SGA ........small for gestational age
SIADH .....syndrome of inappropriate

antidiuretic hormone

Sig ..........label
sl .............sublingual
SLE .........systemic lupus

erythematosus

SLR .........straight leg raise
SPE .........serum protein

electrophoresis

Spgr ........specific gravity
SROM .....spontaneous rupture of

membranes

STAT .......completed within 1 hour
STD .........sexually transmitted disease
STS .........serologic test for syphilis
Supp .......suppository
SVD.........spontaneous vaginal delivery
SVT .........supraventricular tachycardia
Sx............symptoms

T

Tab..........tablet
TAGA ......term appropriate for

gestational age

TAH.........total abdominal

hysterectomy

TE ...........tracheo-esophageal
TIA ..........transient ischemic attack
TIBC ........total iron binding capacity
TID ..........three times a day
TIG ..........tetanus immunoglobulin
TIPS ........tranjugular intrahepatic

portosystemic shunt

TKO.........to keep open
TLC .........total lung capacity
TLV .........total lung volume
TMJ ........temporamandibular joint
TO...........telephone order

TOA........ tubo-ovarian abscess
TORCH... toxoplasmosis others

(syphilis, hepatitis) rubella,
cytomegalovirus, herpes
simplex

TPN ........ total parenteral nutrition
Trach ...... tracheostomy
TRNBP ... transrectal needle biopsy of

prostate

TSH ........ thyroid

stimulating
hormone

TSP ........ total serum protein
TUR ........ transurethral resection
TURP...... transurethral resection of

prostate

TVH ........ total vaginal hysterectomy
T3RU ...... triiodothyroxine resin

uptake

U

UA .......... urinalysis
UAC ....... umbilical arterial catheter
UE .......... upper extremity
UGI......... upper gastrointestinal tract
UPJ ........ ureteropelvic junction
US .......... ultrasound
USG ....... ultrasonography
UVC........ umbilical vein catheter
UVJ ........ ureterovesical junction

V

VA .......... visual acuity
Vacc ....... vaccination
VBAC ..... vaginal birth after cesarean
VC .......... vital capacity
VCUG ..... voiding cystourethrogram
VD .......... venereal disease
v-fib ........ ventricular
fibrillation v-flutter .. ventricular
flutter
VHD ....... valvular heart disease
VMA ....... vanillylmandelic acid
VO .......... verbal orders
VP .......... ventriculoperitoneal
VS .......... vital signs
VSD ........ ventricular septal defect
v-tach ..... ventricular tachycardia

W

WBD ...... weeks by date

Abbreviations

102

WBAT .....weight bearing as tolerated
WBC .......white blood count
WFL ........within functional limits
WNL .......within normal limits
WPWS ....Wolff-Parkinson-White

syndrome

W/U ........work up

X

x3 ........... person,place,time
XRT ........ radiation therapy

Y

Y/O ......... year old

UTMB Prohibited Abbreviations

The following list of abbreviations must NOT be used, and the dose
expressions must only be written in the approved form.

Abbreviation

Intended

Meaning

Misinterpretation

Correction

All Drug Names (some examples follow)

ARA-A

Vidarabine

Cytarabine (ARA-C)

Write
“Vidarabine”

ARA-C

Cytarabine

Vidarabine (ARA-A)

Write
“Cytararbine”

AZT

Zidovudine
(Retrovir®)

Azathioprine (Imuran®)

Write

“Zidovudine or

Retrovir®”

MS

MSO

4

MgSO

4

Morphine Sulfate

Magnesium Sulfate

Confused for one another.
Can mean morphine sulfate

or magnesium sulfate.

Write
“morphine

sulfate”
or “magnesium

sulfate”

MTX

Methotrexate

Mistaken for Mitoxanthrone

Write

Methotrexate

Q.D.,

Q.O.D.

(Latin abbreviation

for once daily and

every other day)

Mistaken for each other.

The period after the Q can

be mistaken for an “I” and
the “O” can be mistaken for

“I”.

Write “daily”

and “every

other day”

T.I.W.

Three times a week

Mistaken for three times a

day or twice weekly

resulting in an overdose.

Write “3
times weekly”

or “three
times weekly”

Abbreviations

103

Abbreviation

Intended

Meaning

Misinterpretation

Correction

A.S., A.D,
A.U.

O.S., O.D.,

O.U.

Latin abbreviation
for left, right or

both ears

Latin abbreviation
for left, right or

both eyes

Mistaken for each other
(e.g., A.S. for O.S., A.D. for

O.D., A.U. for O.U., etc.)

Write
“left ear”,

“right ear” or

“both ears;”

“left

eye”, “right

eye,” or

“both eyes”

µg

Intended meaning is
Microgram

Mistaken for “mg”
milligram when handwritten

Use mcg

U

Unit

Mistaken as zero, four or

cc.

IU

International Unit

Mistaken as IV

(intravenous) or 10 (ten)

Write “unit”

Write

“international

unit”

Zero after

decimal point

(i.e. 1.0)

Trailing zero

(X.0mg)

1.0 mg = 1 mg

Misread as 10 mg if the

decimal point is not seen

Never write a
zero by itself

after a decimal

point (X mg)

Do not use
terminal zeros

for doses

expressed in
whole numbers

Lack of
leading zero

(.X mg)

.5 mg = 0.5 mg

Misread as 5 mg

Always use

zero before a

decimal point

(0.Xmg)when

the dose is less

than a whole

unit.

Abbreviations

104