medical abbreviations

Medical AbbreviationsMedical Abbreviations

Grzegorz Chodkowski (MD)Grzegorz Chodkowski (MD)

Riga, Radisson SAS

2009

Key Points• Not advasible however commonly used• Thousands in use – hundreds to survive• Look for the Hospital Policy on the

use of Medical Abbreviations

Prescribing in HospitalsPrescribing in Hospitals

tds, qds, qid, bid, od, om, ac, pc, nocte, stat, NPO

FOBT, ABG, ESR, CXR, FBC, MSU, U & E, C&S, FBS, OGTT,

HO, CC, HPI, s/b, w/o, d/c, c/o, DOE, NAD, WNL, TTA (TTO), VSS , AAO,

FUO, FTT, DVT, LOC , PUD, VV, AI, DM, COPD, ACS,

TKR, AKA, IBS

RTW, TBC, TCI,

Abbreviation English

AXR abdominal X-ray

Ab, abor abortion

AIDS Acquired immunodificiency syndrome

TED anti embolic stockings

AI artificial insemination

AIHA autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

ANS autonomic nervous system

Bx, bx biopsy

BP blood pressure

BMI body mass index

BT bone tumour

C-sect caesarian section

CA, Ca cancer , lat.carcinoma

CF cancer free

CPR cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

CVS cardiovascular system

CSU catheter specimen of urine

CNS central nervous system

CVP central venous pressure

CSF cerebrospinal fluid


CVA cerebrovascular accident

CXR chest X-ray

CLL chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

CAD coronary artery disease

CN cranial nerve

DOB date of birth

DVT deep vein thrombosis

D&V Diarrhoea & Vomiting

DNR do not resuscitate

DNR do not resuscitate

DU duodenal ulcer

Ez eczema

ECG electrocardiography

EBL estimated blood loss

EUA examination under anaesthesia

EDD expected delivery date

FDIU fetal death in utero

FX, Fx fracture

FBC full blood count

GU gastric ulcer


GI gastrointestinal

GA general anaesthesia

GP General Practitioner

ging. gingiva

Gyn gynaecology

H/ct haematocrit

HD haemodialysis

Hb. haemoglobin

Hb hemoglobin

h. hernia

HDU high dependancy unit

HGH human growth hormone

HIV human immunodficiency virus

IUC idiopathic ulcerative colitis

IVF in vitro fertilization

IDDM insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

INR international normalised ratio (clotting time)

IM, i.m intramascular

IOFB intra-ocular foreign body

IUD intra-uterine death


IV, i.v intravenous

IVI intravenous infusion

KUB kidney, ureter, bladders

LaG labia and gingiva

La labial

a. lat. anno

BD lat. bis in diem ( twice daily )

dx. lat. dexter

Dg. lat. diagnosis

fra. lat. fractura

GI and GII lat. gravida I and gravida II

in dec. lat. in decursu

in st. lat. in statu

m. lat. modo

NPO, n.p.o lat. non per os

n.s lat. non specificata

obs. lat. observatio

OD lat. oculus dexter

OS lat. oculus sinister

OU lat. oculus uterque


OE lat. otitis externa

PO, p.o lat. per od

PO lat. per os ( orally )

post. lat. posterior

PRN lat. pro re nata (as&when required)

prob. lat. probabiliter

ppt. lat. propter

PE lat. pulmonary embolism

QDS lat. quarter in die summendus (four times daily)

qa lat. quoad

ss. lat. subsequens

susp. lat. suspicio

TDS lat. ter in diem summendum ( three times daily )

utr. lat. utriusque

AD lat.auris dextra

meta. lat.metastases

OM lat.otitis media

LLL left lower lobe

LLQ left lower quadrant

LFT liver function test


LA local anaesthesia

gr. lt. Gradus

MRI magnetic resonance imaging

MRI magnetic resonance imaging

med. medial

MD medical doctor

MSU midstream urine

MCP multidisciplinary care pathway

my muopia

MFT muscle function test

MD muscular dystrophy

nas. nasal

NG tube naso gastric

NP. nasopharynx

NHS National Health Service

N&V nausea and vomiting

npl. neoplasma

NBM nil by mouth

NAD no abnormality detected

NIDDM non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus


NEC not elswhere classified

NOS not otherwise specified

NMR nuclear magnetic resonance

No number

OP operation

PWB partial weight bearing

PCA patient-controlled analgesia

PU peptic ulcer

PR per rectum

PV per vagina

PV per vagina

PNS peripheral nervous system

POP plaster of paris

pos. position

PMB post menopausal bleeding

PPH postpartum haemorrhage

PID prolapsed intervertebral disc

pros. prostate

P pulse

RT radiotherapy


RER rectal examination

RBC red blood count / red blood cell

RMO resident medical officer

RTW return to ward

RA rheumatoid arthritis

RUQ right upper quadrant

RTA road traffic accident

S.A,, Sa sarcoma

SM sclerosis multiplex

sin. sinister

ST skin test

st.post status post

s.f sub forma

SC. subcutaneus

SPP suprapubic prostatectomy

syph. syphilis

T temperature

t terminal

TLD thoracic lymph duct

Abbreviation EnglishTCI to come in

TTA to take away

TTO to take out

TURP transurethral resection of the prostate

Tb, Tbc tuberculosis

T tumour

Tu tumour

TNM tumour, node, metastases

UC ulcerative colitis

USG ultrasonography

UGI upper gastrointestinal

URTI upper respiratory tract infection

U&E urea and electrolytes

UTI urinary tract infection

UG urogenital

VE vaginal examination

VAIN vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

VD veneral disease

WR Wasserman reaction (test for syphilis)

WBC white blood count

Abbreviation EnglishCSSD Central Sterile Supply Department

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