Abbreviations – Division B Education Team
Abbreviation
AAA
Translation
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
ABG
Arterial Blood Gas
AF
ARF
A on CRF/
AoCRF
Atrial Fibrillation
Acute Renal Failure
Further Information
Swelling of the main artery in the abdomen
Blood test taken from a critically unwell patient to
monitor O2, CO2, and pH, also to identify acidosis
or alkalosis
Irregular heart beat
Kidney failure
Acute on Chronic Renal Failure
Exacerbation of chronic kidney disease
Art
AS
AVPU
AVR
AXR
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time
Ratio
Arterial
Abdominal System OR Aortic Stenosis
Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive
Aortic Valve Replacement
Abdominal X-Ray
Blood test to check coagulation when receiving
IV heparin
e.g. Art lin e= Arterial line
Aortic Stenosis is a narrowed heart valve
Test to identify consciousness level of patient
BCs
Blood cultures
bd
BKA
Twice a Day
Below Knee Amputation
BMI
Body Mass Index
BNO
BO
BP
CA or Ca
CABG
CCF
CD
CNS
C/o or C.o
COAD
Coag.
Bowels Not Opened
Bowels Opened
Blood Pressure
Carcinoma
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Chronic/ Congestive Cardiac Failure
Controlled Drug
Central Nervous System
Complains of
Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease
Coagulation
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
APTR
CT or CAT
CVA
Chronic Renal Failure/ Chronic Kidney
Disease
Computerised Axial Tomography
Cerebrovascular Accident
CVC/ CVP
Central Venous Catheter/ Pressure
CVS
CXR
D&V
D/H
DNA
DNR
DU
Cardiovascular System
Chest X-ray
Diarrhoea and Vomiting
Drug History
Did Not Attend
Do Not Resuscitate
Duodenal Ulcer
DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis
d/w
DxT
ECG
EEG
ENT
ESR
discussed with
CRF/ CKD
Electrocardiograph
Electroencephalograph
Ear, Nose & Throat
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
Abbreviation used in Medicine - Education Team 2015
Blood taken to identify any bacterial infection that
grows in the blood
A measure of body size relating to height and
weight
Cancer
Also called “cabbage”
Heart Failure
Used as an abbreviation in notes
Chronic lung disease (old term)
Blood test to check blood clotting
Chronic lung disease, can be one of a variety of
diseases such as emphysema, chronic
bronchitis, etc
Body scan
Stroke
Multi-lumen IV access line/ Indicator of Right
Atrial Pressure
Used as an abbreviation in notes
Used as an abbreviation in notes
Blood clot – usually in leg, identified by Doppler
scans
e.g. discussed with doctor
Radiotherapy (as a treatment for Cancer)
Electrical heart trace
Electrical trace of brain activity
A blood test for inflammation
Abbreviations – Division B Education Team
Abbreviation
FBC
FFP
FY1
FY2
GCS
GI
GORD
Meaning
Full Blood Count
Fresh Frozen Plasma
Foundation Year 1
Foundation Year 2
Glasgow Coma Scale
Gastro Intestinal
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease
GTN
Glyceryl Trinitrate
GUM
Genito-Urinary(Medicine)
GU
GUM
HAS
Hb
HI
HNPU
HO
HR
HTN
Hx
IBS
Gastric Ulcer
Genito-Urinary Medicine
Human Albumin Solution
Haemoglobin
Head Injury
Has Not Passed Urine
House Officer
Heart Rate
Hypertension
History (of complaint)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
ICD
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
IDC
INR
IV
Ix
In-dwelling Catheter
International Normal Ratio
Intra-Venous
Investigations
JVP
Jugular Venous Pressure
KUB
LFT
LOC
Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder
Liver Function Test
Loss of Consciousness
LP
Lumbar puncture
LVF
Mané
MAP
MC&S
Mets
MI
MND
MRI
MS
MSS
MSU
MVR
NAD
Nocté
NOF
NSAID
Left Ventricular Failure
In the Morning
Mean Arterial Pressure
Microscopy & Culture Sensitivity of Bacteria
Metastases
Myocardial Infarction
Motor Neurone Disease
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Multiple Sclerosis OR Mitral Stenosis
Musculoskeletal System
Mid-Stream Urine Sample
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Nothing Abnormal Discovered
At Night
Neck of Femur
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Non ST(wave) Elevated Myocardial
Infarction
Nausea & Vomiting
NSTEMI
N&V
Abbreviation used in Medicine - Education Team 2015
Further Information
Blood product
Newly qualified doctor, equivalent to HO
nd
2 year qualified doctor, equivalent to SHO
Consciousness state; score out of 15
To do with the digestive system
Back flow of stomach acid into the gullet
Vaso-dilatory drug working particularly on
coronary arteries, used to relieve angina
Relating to bladder & genitals including sexuallytransmitted infections
For sexually transmitted diseases/infections
IV albumin
A measure of blood count (e.g. in Anaemia)
(see FY1) Junior doctor
Not a correct abbreviation
Used as an abbreviation in notes
Internal permanent defibrillator to automatically
“shock” patient
Urinary catheter
Blood test to test coagulation when on warfarin
Used as an abbreviation in notes
Neck Vein – visible at base of sides of neck and
can be used as an indicator of hydration levels/
BP
X-ray or ultrasound of renal tract (IVP)
Blood tests for liver function
Needle inserted into the spine for diagnostic
purposes
Of a sample usually urine or stool
Spread of Cancer
Heart attack
Body/Brain Scan
Mitral Stenosis is a narrowed heart valve
Negative result of a test/ scan
e.g. #NOF= Fractured Neck of Femur
Abbreviations – Division B Education Team
Abbreviation
OA
o.d.
O/E or o/e
OGD
om
on, o/n
OT
P
PE
PERLA/
PEARL
Meaning
Osteoarthritis
Once a Day
On Examination
Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy
In the Morning
once nightly, overnight
Occupational Therapist
Pulse
Pulmonary Embolism
Pupils equal and reacting to light and
accommodation
PEG
Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy
PEJ
Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy
PFR/ PEFR
PFTs
PICC
PM
PMH also PHx
PO
POP
PPE
PPI
PPM
Peak Flow Rate
Pulmonary Function Tests
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease OR
Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc
Post mortem examination
Previous Medical History
Per Oral
Plaster of Paris
Personal Protective Equipment
Proton Pump Inhibitor
Permanent Pacemaker
PR
Per Rectum
PRN
PT
PU
As Required
Physiotherapist
Percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty
Peptic Ulcer OR Passed urine
PV
Per Vagina
PVD
Px
qds (or) qid
RA
RBC/ PRC
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Prescribed
Four times a day
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Red Blood Cells/ Packed Red Cells
RIG
Radiologically Inserted Gastronomy
ROS
RR
RS
RTA
Rx
Removal of Sutures
Respiration Rate
Respiratory System
Road Traffic Accident
Prescription or Treatment
SHO
Senior House Officer
SOB
SOL
SpR
SR
Stat
Shortness of Breath
Space Occupying Lesion
Specialist Registrar
Sinus rhythm
Immediately
PID
PTCA
Abbreviation used in Medicine - Education Team 2015
Further Information
Telescope examination of stomach and gullet
Blood clot on the lung
On examination of nervous system/eyes
Feeding tube inserted through abdomen wall for
long-term feeding and inserted in the stomach
Feeding tube inserted through abdomen wall for
long-term feeding inserted in the jejunum
Breathing test – speed of expiration
Tests to record efficiency of breathing
Long-term Central Line
Gynaecological infection OR
Slipped Disc
Used as an abbreviation in notes
By Mouth
e.g. apron, gloves, etc.
Drug to reduce production of acid in the stomach
Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker
Route for drug administration via rectum/ Rectal
examination
Not a correct abbreviation
Opening up the main arteries of the heart using a
balloon inserted usually near the groin
Peptic Ulcer – Stomach or Duodenal Ulcer
Route for drug administration via vagina/ Vaginal
examination
Furring up of the blood vessels of the limbs
Used as an abbreviation in notes
“Bag of blood” for transfusion
Feeding tube for permanent feeding into the
stomach
Rate of breathing in breaths per minute
(see FY2) Doctor- Grading: HO(junior), SHO,
SpR, Consultant(senior)
Tumour in head
Senior Doctor
Normal regular heart beat
i.e. give a drug stat
Abbreviations – Division B Education Team
Abbreviation
TB
Meaning
Sexually Transmitted Disease/ Sexually
Transmitted Infection
Tuberculosis
TCI
To come in
tds (or) tid
TFTs
THR
TIA
Three Times a Day
Thyroid Function Test
Total Hip Replacement
Transient Ischaemic Attack
TIPPS
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portal Systemic
Shunt
TKR
Total Knee Replacement
TLC
Tender Loving Care
TOE
Trans Oesophageal Echocardiograph
TPN
Trans-Pareneteral Nutrition
TTE
Trans Thoracic Echocardiograph
TTO/A
To take home/away (medication)
TURP
Transurethral resection of prostate
TWOC
Trial Without Catheter
STD/ STI
Further Information
Date or fact that a person is due to be admitted
to hospital
Small, short lived stroke – often recurrent
Procedure to allow blood to flow directly through
the portal vein to the hepatic vein via a tube
inserted in radiology
Treat only with symptom relief and nursing care,
usually associated with end-of-life care
Ultrasound of the heart to identify damage or
disease and efficiency by using a probe inserted
into the oesophagus
Feeding intravenously
Ultrasound through the chest wall to identify
damage or disease and efficiency of the heart
Operation on the prostate gland carried out
through the penis to reduce
Check to see if patient passes urine following
urinary catheter removal
Ulcerative Colitis
UO, u/o
USS
UTI
U&Es
Urine Output
Ultra Sound Scan
Urinary Tract Infection
Urea and Electrolytes
VF
Ventricular Fibrillation
VT
WBC
Wt
Ventricular Tachycardia
White Blood Cell Count
Weight
Abbreviation used in Medicine - Education Team 2015
Blood test generally for kidney function
Rapid uncoordinated heart beat usually leading
to collapse, and need for defibrillation (electric
heart shock)
Fast heart beat