Medical Abbreviations

Here are some common Medical abbreviation

Abbreviation	Stands for	More information
ABG	Arterial blood gas	Arterial blood gas (ABG) is a test that measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as other blood gas parameters, in arterial blood.
AC	Antecubital	The antecubital region refers to the inner part of the elbow.
ACL	Anterior cruciate ligament	The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament in the knee joint that helps to stabilize the knee and prevent excessive forward movement of the tibia (shin bone).
ADHD	Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder	Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
AIDS	Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome	AIDS is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that attacks the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and certain types of cancer.
AKA	Above knee amputation	“Above knee amputation” is a surgical procedure that involves removing the leg above the knee joint.
ALP	Alkaline phosphatase	Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate esters in an alkaline environment.
ALT	Alanine aminotransferase	Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an enzyme found predominantly in liver cells that catalyzes the transfer of an amino group from alanine to alpha-ketoglutarate, producing pyruvate and glutamate.
AMA	Against medical advice	“Against medical advice” refers to a situation where a patient leaves a healthcare facility or refuses medical treatment despite being advised otherwise by healthcare professionals.
AMI	Acute myocardial infarction	Acute myocardial infarction is a medical condition commonly known as a heart attack, which occurs due to the interruption of blood flow to a part of the heart, leading to damage or death of heart muscle tissue.
AP	Anteroposterior	Anteroposterior refers to the direction or measurement from the front to the back of an object or organism.
ARDS	Acute respiratory distress syndrome	Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe lung condition that causes difficulty breathing due to fluid buildup in the lungs.
ASAP	As soon as possible	“As soon as possible” can be described as ASAP, meaning without delay or at the earliest opportunity.
BID	Twice daily	“Twice daily” means something that should be done or taken two times a day.
BUN	Blood urea nitrogen	Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea, a waste product of protein metabolism.
BPD	Bipolar disorder	Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels.
BP	Blood pressure	Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of arteries during circulation.
BPH	Benign prostatic hyperplasia	Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland in men, often causing urinary symptoms.
BRBPR	Bright red blood per rectum	Bright red blood per rectum refers to the passage of fresh, red blood from the rectum, typically indicating lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
BS	Bowel sounds	Bowel sounds refer to the sounds produced by the abdomen(bowel) when there is passage of food through it.
BSA	Body surface area	Body surface area refers to the total surface area that the human body has.
BT	Bleeding time	Bleeding time refers to the time taken for platelet plug formation or time taken for stoppage of bleeding
CAD	Coronary artery disease	Coronary artery diseases refer to the diseases causes due to the damage in major blood vessels of the heart.
CAH	Congenital adrenal hyperplasia	Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a congenital or birth defect resulting in limited production of hormones by the adrenal glands
CAT	Computed axial tomography	Computed axial tomography is an investigation procedure in which computer and X-ray are linked to give detailed picture of various areas of human body.
CBC	Complete blood count	Complete blood count(CBC) is a test done to get information on the count of RBC, WBC, platelets in blood.
CCU	Coronary care unit	Coronary care unit(CCU) is a specialised ward particularly for patients with serious health conditions like heart attack.
CHF	Congestive heart failure	Congestive heart failure is a cardiac condition in which the heart fails to supply adequate amount of blood to the organs and tissues.
CNS	Central nervous system	Central nervous system comprises of the brain and the spinal cord and is one of the two nervous systems in human body.
COPD	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	COPD includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis in which there is obstruction in the airflow and difficult in breathing.
CPAP	Continuous positive airway pressure	CPAP refers to continuous positive airway pressure in which positive pressure is given in the airways in order to maintain the airways pressure.
CPR	Cardiopulmonary resuscitation	Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a life saving emergency procedure to help maintain breathing and heartbeat of the patient.
C&S	Culture and sensitivity	Culture and sensitivity is a microbiological test which comprises of both isolation of potential harmful microbes and sensitivity testing.
CT	Computed tomography	Computed tomography is an investigation procedure which gives a detailed picture of structures in human body using special X-ray.
D&C	Dilatation and curettage	D&C comprises of cervix dilation and removal of contents or parts of uterus surgically.
DNR	Do not resuscitate	It is an instruction that the healthcare workers should avoid using CPR in the patient if in case the patients stops breathing.
DOB	Date of birth	It is the exact date when a person is born.
DOE	Dyspnea on exertion	Dyspnea on exertion is shortness of breath and inability to breathe properly during physical activities.
DVT	Deep vein thrombosis	Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where there is formation of blood clot also known as thrombosis in the deep veins of body. This is usually present in legs.
ECG or EKG	Electrocardiogram	An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a cardiac test that helps in measuring the overall electric actually of heart.
ED	Emergency department	It is the department of emergency present in every hospitals where critical and urgent patients are taken care of.
EENT	Eye, ear, nose, and throat	EENT is the study of eye, ear, nose and throat
ENT	Ear, nose, and throat	It is a subject that deals with ear, nose and throat.
EOM	Extraocular movements	All the movements done by the extra ocular muscles of eyes are termed as extra ocular movements
FBS	Fasting blood sugar	Fasting blood sugar is a blood test done to know the sugar level in blood after fasting overnight.
FFP	Fresh frozen plasma	Fresh frozen plasma is a blood product which is formed by the liquid part of blood and is used in the treatment of conditions with low protein levels of blood or in which there is decreased amount of blood clotting factors.
FSH	Follicle-stimulating hormone	Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone released in response of the GnRH. Anterior pituitary produces it.
GERD	Gastroesophageal reflux disease	It is a chronic condition in which  stomach acid or bile leaks into feeding tube and irritates the mucous membrane.
GI	Gastrointestinal	It refers to the parts or organs present in the gastric and intestinal region
GTT	Glucose tolerance test	GTT is a test done to check how fast does the glucose come out of the blood.
Hb	Hemoglobin	Hemoglobin is a protein present in the Red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen from lungs to the tissues.
Hct	Hematocrit	Hematocrit count is the total percentage of red blood cells by volume in the body.
HDL	High-density lipoprotein	HDL, also known as good cholesterol is a lipid molecule that takes cholesterol back to the liver from blood.
HEENT	Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat	It is a study that deals with head, eyes, ears, nose and throat.
HIV	Human immunodeficiency virus	HIV is an immunodeficiency virus responsible for causing AIDS.
I&D	Incision and drainage	It is a procedure in which incision is made and the content inside is drained out.
IBS	Irritable bowel syndrome	It is a syndrome in which there is pain in the stomach along with constipation, diarrhoea
ICU	Intensive care unit	ICU is the special ward in hospitals that take care of very critical patients.
IDDM	Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus	Type-1 diabetes Mellitus is known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IHD	Ischemic heart disease	Cardiac disease occuring due to ischemia or damage to the blood vessels supplying heart.
IM	Intramuscular	Intramuscular refers inside the muscle.
INR	International normalized ratio	INR test is another name given for Prothrombin time test that helps is checking the extrinsic as well as common coagulation pathways.
IUD	Intrauterine device	IUD is a device that are often of T shape and placed inside the uterus to avoid pregnancy.
JCAHO	Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations	JCAHO is a USA based non-profit organisation that conducts various health programs in it’s respective country.
KUB	Kidneys, ureters, bladder	Associated with kidneys, ureters as well as bladder.
L&D	Labor and delivery	Labor and birth are the process comprising child birth in which uterine contractions take place.
LBP	Low back pain	Low back pain is a painful condition generally affecting the lower portion of the spine.
LDL	Low-density lipoprotein	Low-density lipoprotein is the bad cholesterol that increases the chances of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.
LFT	Liver function test	LFT comprises of blood tests that check the levels of various substances released by the liver.
LMP	Last menstrual period	Last menstrual period is the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period before she fell pregnant.
LOS	Length of stay	Length of stay is the duration between a patient’s admission in a hospital and his/her discharge from the hospital.
MAC	Mycobacterium avium complex	Mycobacterium avium complex is a group of mycobacteria that infect humans.
MI	Myocardial infarction	Myocardial infarction is a medical emergency also known as heart attack in which there is obstruction to the blood flow to the cardiac muscles.
MRI	Magnetic resonance imaging	MRI is a radiological technique to image various anatomical as well as physiological processes of human body.
MS	Multiple sclerosis	Multiple sclerosis is a immune-mediated disease in which the protective covering of nerves get destroyed that leads in loss of communication between brain and the body.
MSK	Musculoskeletal	Musculoskeletal system comprises of bones, tendons, cartilage, connective tissues as well as ligaments.
MTX	Methotrexate	Methotrexate is an anti-metabolite drug used to slow down the growth of cancerous cells in body.
NICU	Neonatal intensive care unit	NICU is a specialised ward in hospitals that take care of sick babies.
NPO	Nil per os (nothing by mouth)	Nil per os means nothing to be eaten or drunk by mouth.
NSAID	Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug	NSAIDS are the group of drugs that are used to reduce inflammation, pain and fever.
OB/GYN	Obstetrics and gynecology	Obstetrics and gynaecology is a medical speciality dealing with these two aspects of female reproductive system.
OD	Once daily	OD dosing refers to taking the drug once daily.
OR	Operating room	Operating room is a specialised room in hospitals consisting all essential equipment where the patients are operated.
OTC	Over-the-counter	Over-the-counter group of medicine are the medicines that you can purchase without prescription.
P	Pulse	Pulse refers to the number of heart beats in a minute.
PA	Physician assistant	Physician assistant are healthcare service providers that work under the supervision of physicians.
PACU	Post-anesthesia care unit	It is a specialised unit in hospitals where the patients after receiving anaesthesia are sent to recover from the effects of anaesthesia.
PCP	Primary care physician	A primary care physician is a person who helps you maintain a good health and whom you can talk about your health issues given that it’s not a serious condition.
PD	Parkinson’s disease	Parkinson’s is a progressive nervous diseases in which there is decrease in the level of dopamine.
PERRLA	Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation	PERRLA is a pupillary test to check if the structure and function of pupil are normal or not.
PET	Positron emission tomography	A medical imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to produce detailed images of the body’s internal organs and tissues.
PID	Pelvic inflammatory disease	An infection of the female reproductive organs, usually caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.
PMH	Past medical history	A record of a patient’s previous illnesses, surgeries, and medical treatments.
PMS	Premenstrual syndrome	A combination of physical and emotional symptoms that occur in the days leading up to a woman’s menstrual period.
PO	By mouth	A method of administering medication or other substances through the mouth, typically in the form of pills, capsules, or liquids.
PRN	As needed	Used to indicate that a medication or treatment should be taken only when necessary.
PT	Physical therapy	Treatment aimed at improving or restoring physical function through exercise, massage, and other techniques.
PT/INR	Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio	A blood test used to evaluate the time it takes for blood to clot and to monitor the effectiveness of blood-thinning medication.
PUD	Peptic ulcer disease	A condition in which sores develop in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
QD	Every day	Occurring or done on a daily basis.
QID	Four times a day	Referring to a medication regimen with four doses administered in a 24-hour period, approximately every 6 hours.
QOD	Every other day	Occurring every second day or on alternate days.
RBC	Red blood cell	A type of blood cell that carries oxygen throughout the body.
REM	Rapid eye movement	A stage of sleep characterized by fast, jerky eye movements and vivid dreams.
RICE	Rest, ice, compression, elevation	A treatment protocol for acute injuries, aiming to reduce pain and swelling.
RSV	Respiratory syncytial virus	A common virus that causes respiratory infections, particularly in young children.
RX	Prescription	A written or electronic order from a healthcare provider for medication, treatment or device.
SARS	Severe acute respiratory syndrome	A viral respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV virus.
SIDS	Sudden infant death syndrome	Unexpected death of a seemingly healthy infant under 1 year of age, usually during sleep.
SL	Sublingual	Under the tongue.
SLE	Systemic lupus erythematosus	A chronic autoimmune disease that can affect various organs and tissues in the body, causing inflammation and damage.
SOAP	Subjective, objective, assessment, plan	A standard format used in medical documentation to organize a patient’s history, physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
SOB	Shortness of breath	Difficulty breathing, characterized by a feeling of suffocation or air hunger.
STD	Sexually transmitted disease	Infections that spread through sexual contact, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.
Sx	Symptoms	Physical or mental changes indicating a disease or condition.
T&A	Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy	Surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids to treat recurrent infections or breathing problems.
TIA	Transient ischemic attack	A temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, causing stroke-like symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.
TIBC	Total iron-binding capacity	A blood test that measures the amount of iron that can be bound by proteins in the blood.
TKO	To keep open	Refers to keeping an intravenous line open with a saline solution to prevent clotting.
TPN	Total parenteral nutrition	A method of providing nutrition through intravenous route when the digestive system is unable to function.
TSH	Thyroid-stimulating hormone	A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.
Tx	Treatment	The management and care provided to alleviate, cure or prevent illness or disease.
UA	Urinalysis	A diagnostic test that examines urine to evaluate health conditions and detect possible abnormalities.
UC	Ulcerative colitis	A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon and rectum, causing ulcers and inflammation.
URI	Upper respiratory infection	An infection of the respiratory system that affects the nose, sinuses, pharynx, or larynx.
UTI	Urinary tract infection	An infection that affects any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
VA	Visual acuity	The ability of the eye to distinguish details and shapes of objects at a given distance.
VDRL	Venereal Disease Research Laboratory	A blood test used to diagnose syphilis.
VF	Ventricular fibrillation	A condition in which the heart’s electrical activity becomes chaotic, causing the ventricles to quiver instead of contracting properly.
VIP	Vasoactive intestinal peptide	A hormone that regulates various biological processes, including blood flow and digestion.
VLDL	Very low-density lipoprotein	A type of lipoprotein that carries triglycerides and other fats from the liver to various parts of the body, and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
VSS	Vital signs stable	A medical term used to describe a patient whose heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing are within normal ranges and not showing any signs of significant change.
WBC	White blood cell	type of blood cell that helps fight infection and disease in the body.
WHO	World Health Organization	A specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for international public health.
XRT	Radiation therapy	Medical treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors.
YOB	Year of birth	The year in which a person is born.