| Do Not Use | Potential Problem | Use Instead
|
| Official "Do Not Use" List:
|
| U (unit) | Mistaken for “0” (zero), the number “4” (four) or “cc” | "unit"
|
| IU (International Unit) | Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number 10 (ten) | "International Unit"
|
Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily)
Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day) | Mistaken for each other. Period after the Q mistaken for "I" and
the "O" mistaken for "I" (q.i.d. is four times a day dosing) | "daily"
"every other day"
|
Trailing zero (X.0 mg)
Lack of leading zero (.X mg) | Decimal point is missed | X mg
0.X mg
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| MS | Can mean morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate | "morphine sulfate"
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| MSO4 and MgSO4 | Confused for one another | "magnesium sulfate"
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| For possible future inclusion in the Official List:
|
> (greater than)
< (less than) | Misinterpreted as the number "7" (seven) or the letter "L".
Confused for one another | "greater than"
"less than"
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| Abbreviations for drug names | Misinterpreted due to similar abbreviations for multiple drugs | Write drug names in full
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| Apothecary units | Unfamiliar to many practitioners. Confused with metric units | metric units
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| @ | Mistaken for the number "2" (two) | "at"
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| cc | Mistaken for U (units) when poorly written | "mL" or "milliliters"
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| µg | Mistaken for mg (milligrams) resulting in one thousandfold overdose | "mcg" or "micrograms"
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| A&Ox3 | Alert and Oriented to person, place, and time
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| A&Ox4 | Alert and Oriented to person, place, time, and circumstances (often used interchangeably with A&Ox3)
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| A&W | Alive and well
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| a.a. | of each, from Latin, ana
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| AAA | Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Pronounced "Triple A"
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| AAT | activity as tolerated
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| Ab | Antibody
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| ABC | aspiration biopsy cytology
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| ABCD | "Asymmetry, borders, color, diameter" features on considering "is it a Melanoma"?
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| ABD or abd | abdomen
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| ABG | Arterial blood gases
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| ABMT | Autologous bone marrow transplantation
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| ABPI | Ankle brachial pressure index
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| ABVD | doxorubicin bleomycin vinblastine dacarbazine First-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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| ABX | antibiotics
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| a.c. | before meal, from Latin, ante cibum
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| ACE | Angiotensin converting enzyme
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| ACEI | Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
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| Ach | Acetylcholine
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| ACL | Anterior cruciate ligament
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| ACLS | Advanced cardiac life support
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| ACTH | Adrenocorticotropic hormone
|
| ad. | right ear
| ad part. dolent | to the painful parts, from Latin, partes dolentes
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| AD | Alzheimer's Disease
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| ADA | Adenosine deaminase
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| ADC | AIDS dementia complex
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| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder
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| ADH | Antidiuretic hormone
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| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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| ADL | activities of daily living
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| ad lib | as desired from Latin, ad libitum
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| adm | admission
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| ADR | Adverse drug reaction
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| AEM | Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring
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| AF | atrial fibrillation
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| AF | atrial flutter
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| AF | Amniotic fluid
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| AFB | acid fast bacilli
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| AFO | ankle-foot orthosis
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| AFP | Alpha-fetoprotein
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| Ag | Antigen
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| AGA | Anti-gliadin Antibodies
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| a.h. | every other hour, from Latin, alternis horis
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| AHF | Antihemophilic factor
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| AHG | Antihemophilic globulin
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| AHH | aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase
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| AI | Artificial insemination
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| AI | Aortic insufficiency
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| AICD | Automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
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| AID | Artificial insemination by donor
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| AIDS | Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
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| AIH | artificial insemination by husband
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| AIIRB | Angiotensin II receptor antagonist
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| aka | also known as
|
| AKA | Above knee amputation
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| ALG | Antilymphocytic globulin
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| ALL | Acute lymphocytic leukemia
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| ALP | Alkaline phosphatase
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| ALPS | Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome
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| ALS | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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| ALS | Advanced Life Support
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| ALT | Alanine transferase
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| altern. d. | every other day, from Latin, alterno die
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| AMA | Anti-mitochondrial Antibodies
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| AMA | Against Medical Advice
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| AMA | Advanced Maternal Age (35 years or greater)
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| AMC | Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
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| AMI | Acute myocardial infarction
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| AML | Acute myelocytic leukemia
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| AMP | Adenosine monophosphate
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| AMS | Acute mountain sickness
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| AMS | atypical measles syndrome
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| ANA | Anti-nuclear antibody
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| ANCA | Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies
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| ANF | Atrial natriuretic factor
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| ANP | Atrial natriuretic peptide
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| ANS | Autonomic nervous system
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| ANUG | Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
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| a.p. | before dinner, from Latin, ante prandium
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| AP | Alkaline phosphatase
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| APAP | acetaminophen, paracetamol; from the chemical name N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
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| APD | adult polycystic disease
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| APECED | autoimmune polyendocrinopathy
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| APH | Antepartum haemorrhage
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| APLS | antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
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| applic. | allicandus, from Latin, to be applied
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| APSAC | Anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex
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| APS | autoimmune polyglandular syndrome
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| aPTT | Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
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| aq. | water, from Latin, aqua
|
| aq. bull. | boiling water, from Latin, aqua bulliens
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| aq. calid. | warm or hot water, from Latin, aqua calida
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| aq. dist. | distilled water, from Latin, aqua distillata
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| aq. gel. | cold water, from Latin, aqua gelida
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| AR | Aortic Regurgitation
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| ARB | Angiotensin II receptor antagonist
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| ARC | AIDS related complex
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| ARDS | Acute respiratory distress syndrome
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| ARF | Acute renal failure
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| Arg | Arginine
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| ART | antiretroviral therapy
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| ART | assuming room temperature, ie) the patient has died.
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| ARM | Artificial rupture of membranes
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| ASA | Acetylsalicylic acid - commonly known as aspirin
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| AS | Aortic stenosis
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| ASCAD | arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
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| ASD | Atrial septal defect
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| ASGUS | Atypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance
|
| ASCUS | Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance
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| ASL | American sign language
|
| ASO | Antistreptolysin O
|
| ASOT | Antistreptolysin O titre
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| AST | Aspartate transaminase
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| ASX | Asymptomatic
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| ATA | Anti-transglutaminase antibodies
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| ATCC | American Type Culture Collection
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| ATG | Antithymic globulin
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| AT-III | Antithrombin III
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| ATP | acute thrombocytopenic purpura
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| ATP | adenosine triphosphate
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| ATP | Anti-tachycardia pacing
|
| aur. | ear, from Latin, auris
|
| aur. dextro. | to right ear, from Latin, auris dextrae
|
| aur. laev | to left ear, from Latin, auris laevae
|
| aurist. | ear drops, from Latin, auristillae
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| AVM | Arteriovenous malformation
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| AVR | Aortic valve replacement
|
| AZT | azidothymidine
|
| Ba | Barium
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| BAL | Bronchoalveolar lavage
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| BAL | British anti-Lewisite
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| BAL | Blood Alcohol Level
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| BAO | Basic acid output
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| BAT | Brown adipose tissue
|
| BCG | Bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis vaccination)
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| BCX | Blood culture
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| BBMF | "Bone break, me fix" Orthopedic consent form
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| b.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis die
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| BD | Bipolar Disorder
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| b.i.d. | Twice daily, from Latin, bis in die
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| BE | Base excess
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| BGL | Blood Glucose Level
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| BIBA | brought in by ambulance
|
| BIB | Brought in by
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| BK | Bacterium Koch
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| BKA | Below Knee Amputation
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| bl.cult | Blood culture
|
| bld | Blood
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| BLS | Basic Life Support
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| BMC | Bone mass content
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| BMD | Bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement)
|
| BMI | Body mass index
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| BMP | Blood Metabolic Profile
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| BMR | Basal metabolic rate
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| BMT | Bone marrow transplantation
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| BNF | British National Formulary
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| BNO | Bowel Not Open
|
| BNP | Brain natriuretic peptide
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| BO | Bowel Open
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| BOA | Born out of Asepsis
|
| BOI | Born on island, ie. a local patient.
|
| BOOP | Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
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| BP | Blood pressure
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| BP | Bipolar disorder
|
| BPAD | Bipolar Affective Disorder
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| BPD | Bi-Parietal Diameter
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| BPD | Borderline personality disorder
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| BPH | Benign prostatic hyperplasia
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| BPM | Beats per minute
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| BPPV | Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
|
| BRAT | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast: acronym for bland diet
|
| BRATY | Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, (dry) Toast, Yogurt: acronym for bland diet for children
|
| BRP | Bathroom Privileges
|
| BRBPR | Bright red blood per rectum
|
| BS | Breath or Bowel sounds on auscultation with stethoscope
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| BS | Blood Sugar
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| BSE | Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
|
| BSE | Breast self-examination
|
| BSL | Blood Sugar Level
|
| BSP | Bromsulphthalein
|
| BUN | Blood urea nitrogen
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| BV | Bacterial vaginosis
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| Bx | Biopsy
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| O2 | Oxygen
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| OA | osteoarthritis
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| OB-GYN | Obstetrics and gynecology
|
| OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder
|
| OD | right eye from Latin, oculus dexter
|
| OD | overdose
|
| od | every day, usually regarded as once daily, from the Latin, omni die. Generally written in lower case.
|
| O/E | on examination
|
| OGTT | Oral glucose tolerance test
|
| om | every morning, from the Latin, omni mane. Generally written in lower case.
|
| OME | Otitis Media with Effusion - fluid in the inner ear without other symptoms.
|
| on | every night, from the Latin, omni nocte. Generally written in lower case.
|
| OP | outpatient department
|
| OPPT | Oriented to Person Place and Time
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| OS | left eye from Latin, oculus sinister
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| OS | Orthopedic surgery
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| OSA | Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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| OSH | outside hospital
|
| OTC | Over-the-counter drug
|
| OTD | Out the Door (discharged)
|
| OTPP | Oriented to Time Place and Person
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| OU | Both eyes, from Latin, oculi uterque
|
| p | (p with a bar over it) after, from Latin, post
|
| P | Parturition (total number of live births)
|
| P | Phosphorus
|
| P | Pulse
|
| PA | posterior-anterior
|
| PA | Pulmonary artery
|
| PAF | Platelet activating factor
|
| PAF | Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF)
|
| PAH | Pulmonary arterial hypertension
|
| PAI-1 | Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
|
| PAO | Peak Acid Output
|
| PAP | Papanicolaou stain
|
| Pap | Papanicolaou Test (pap smear)
|
| PAT | Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
|
| p.c. | After food, from Latin, post cibum
|
| PCI | Percutaneous coronary intervention
|
| PCL | Posterior cruciate ligament
|
| PCOS | Polycystic ovarian syndrome
|
| PCP | Pneumocystis pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia)
|
| PCP | Primary Care Physician/Primary Care Provider
|
| PCR | Polymerase chain reaction
|
| PCWP | Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
|
| PDA | Patent ductus arteriosus
|
| PDE | Phosphodiesterase
|
| PDT | Photodynamic Therapy
|
| PE | Pulmonary Embolism
|
| PE | Pre-eclampsia
|
| PEEP | Positive end expiratory pressure
|
| PEF | Peak expiratory flow
|
| PEFR | Peak expiratory flow rate
|
| PERLA | Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accommodation
|
| PERRLA | Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
|
| PET | Positron-emission tomography
|
| PFO | Patent foramen ovale
|
| PID | Pelvic inflammatory disease
|
| PIH | Pregnancy induced hypertension
|
| PIP | Proximal interphalangeal joint
|
| PKA | Protein kinase A
|
| PKD | Polycystic kidney disease
|
| PKU | Phenylketonuria
|
| PLT | platelets
|
| PMB | Post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause)
|
| PMH | [past medical history] or Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage
|
| PMN | Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils
|
| PMR | Percutaneous Myocardial Revascularisation
|
| PMR | Polymyalgia Rheumatica
|
| PND | Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
|
| p.o. | By mouth (orally), from Latin, per os
|
| poly | Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils
|
| POX | Peroxidase
|
| PPH | Post partum haemorrhage
|
| PPH | Primary Pulmonary hypertension
|
| PPROM | Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
|
| PPTL | Post-Partum Tubal Ligation
|
| p.r. | per rectum (as noun: rectal examination)
|
| PRA | Plasma renin activity
|
| PRIND | Prolonged Reversible Ischemic Neurologic Deficit
|
| prn | as necessary, from Latin, pro re nata (if used in chronic pain control disparagingly termed "pain relief nil")
|
| PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes
|
| PRP | PanRetinal Photocoagulation
|
| PSA | Prostatic specific antigen
|
| PSP | Phenylsulphtalein
|
| PTM | Pulmonary Tuberculosis
|
| Pt. | Patient, from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers"
|
| PTA | Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
|
| PTCA | Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
|
| PT | Prothrombin time
|
| PTH | Parathyroid hormone
|
| PTx | Pneumothorax
|
| PTT | Partial thromboplastin time
|
| PUD | peptic ulcer disease
|
| PUVA | Psoralen UV A
|
| p.v. | per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection)
|
| PVD | peripheral vascular disease
|
| PVR | Pulmonary vascular resistance
|
| PWP | Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
|
| Px, px | physical examination
|
| Px | Prognosis
|
| q | each, every, {from Latin, quaque}
|
| q.a.d. | every other day, (from Latin, quaque altera die)
|
| QALY | Quality-adjusted life years
|
| q.AM | every AM, (from Latin, quaque ante meridiem)
|
| q.d. | each day, {from Latin, quaque die}
|
| q.d.s. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater die sumendus}
|
| q.h. | each hour, {from Latin, quaque hora}
|
| q.h.s. | every bedtime, {from Latin, quaque hora somni}
|
| q.i.d. | four times each day, {from Latin, quater in die}
|
| q.m.t. | every month
|
| q.w.k. | weekly
|
| q.o.d | every other day
|