344-1 Common Medical Abbreviations
The list below contains some of the most frequently used abbreviations in medical records:
abd
ad lib
ADL
adm
AK
AMA
amb
a/o
ARDS
AROM
ASA
BCP
BE
bid, b.i.d.
BK
BM
BP
BR
c
CAT
C&S
CBC
CC or cc
CICU
CNS
c/o
cpd fx
CPR
c-spine
CT
CXR
d/c
D/C, DC
DNKA
DTR
dx
EBL
ECG
EDC
EEG
EKG
EMS
EOA
Epi
ER
ETOH
Fe
Fem
FH
FHR
FHT
FHM
abdomen or abdominal
as much as needed or desired
activities of daily living
admission
above the knee
against medical advice
ambulate
alert and orientated
adult respiratory distress syndrome
artificial rupture of the membranes
aspirin
birth control pills
barium enema
two times a day
below the knee
black male or bowel movement
blood pressure
bed rest or bathroom
with [used frequently]
Computerized Axial Tomography
Culture and sensitivities
complete blood count
chief complaint [used frequently]
coronary intensive care unit
central nervous system
complain of [used frequently]
compound fracture [more serious than a normal fracture]
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
cervical spine
CAT scan
chest X-ray
discontinue
discharge
did not keep appointment [very important]
deep tendon reflexes
diagnosis
estimated blood loss
electrocardiogram
estimated date of confinement
electroencephalogram
electrocardiogram
emergency medical service
oral airway
epidural
emergency room
ethyl alcohol [important—indicates alcohol consumption]
iron
femoral
family history
fetal heart rate
fetal heart tone
fetal heart monitor
FHx
FOB
Lu., F/U
Fx
Fx dis
GP
GSW
GYN
H&P
HA, H/A
HBP
HEENT
HOB
HPI
hr
HR
Hx
I&D
ICCU
IM
IUD
IV
KLS
L
L
Lab
LE’s
LMP
LOC
M
M.E.
MAE
MCL
med(s)
MICU
MVA
N.A.D.
NEU, Neu
NKA
nl
NS
N/V, N&V
N/V/D
O.D.
O.S.
O.U.
OA
OB
Occ
OD
OR
ORIF
Ortho
OT, O/T
PE
PG
family history
foot of bed
follow up
fracture
fracture dislocation/dislocated
general practitioner
gunshot wound
gynecology
history and physical
headache
high blood pressure
head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
head of bed
history of present illness
hour
heart rate
history
incision and drainage
intensive coronary-care unit [illustrates concern about heart problems]
intramuscular
intrauterine device
intravenous
kidney, liver, spleen [any injury to these organs is significant]
left
lumbar
laboratory
lower extremities
last menstrual period
level of consciousness or loss of consciousness [very important]
murmur
medical examiner
moving all extremities
midclavicular line
medications
medical intensive care unit, or mobile intensive care unit
motor vehicle accident [used frequently]
no acute distress
neurological
no known allergies
normal limits
neurosurgery
nausea and vomiting
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
right eye
left eye
both eyes
osteoarthritis
obstetrics
occasional
overdose
operating room
open reduction & internal fixation
orthopedic
occupational therapy
physical examination
pregnant
PH
PI
PMH
po
P.O.
post-op
PRN
pt
PT
PTA
PX
q.a.m.
q.d.
q.h.
R
RN
R/O
ROM
RR
s
SLR
S/P
STAT
STD
surg
SX, Sx
tic, t.i.d.
TMJ
TPR
TX, Tx
Ua
UCHD
U.E.’s
V.O.
W
W/, w/
WNL, wnl
x
>
<
past history
present illness
prior medical history
by mouth
phone order
post operative pre-op pre-operative
as required or as needed [used frequently]
patient
physical therapy
prior to admission
prognosis
every morning
every day
every hour q.i.d. or QID 4 times a day
right
registered nurse
rule out
range of motion or rupture of membranes
recovery room
without
straight leg raising
status post
immediately
sexually transmitted disease
surgery
symptoms
3 times a day
temporomandibular joint
temperature, pulse & respiration
treatment
urinalysis
usual childhood diseases
upper extremities
verbal order
white
with
within normal limits
times
increase
decrease
greater than
less than