In the medical field it is common practice to abbreviate (shorten) words whenever possible. The time involved in creating proper chart notes is quite lengthy. Treatment or flow charts are simpler to put together and maintain using universal terms and abbreviations. Even the act of leaving notes for other medical professionals is improved with their use, and in fact there is even an abbreviation for the word abbreviation: abbr. Some veterinary clinics have a few all their own, but overall medical abbreviations are universal. So universal, in fact, that many of the same terms are used in both veterinary and human medicine.
There are thousands of abbreviations used in the medical field. The following are some of the most commonly used. In the parantheses next to a definition you may notice the abbreviation “L.” which stands for “Latin.”
ā before (Latin for ante)
AAO alert, awake, and oriented
AB abdominal/abnormal/antibody
abd abdominal
abx antibiotics
A.C. before meals (L. ante cibum)
A/C anterior chamber/ assist/control
ac acute
AD right ear (L. auris dextra)
ad. let there be added (L. addetur)
ad hoc informal
amb ambulate
AP anterior/posterior
AS left ear (L. auris sinistra)
AU both ears (L. aures unitas)
BG blood glucose
BID twice daily
BP blood pressure
BPM beats per minute
Bx biopsy
W/ with
CA cancer
Cap. Capsule
CBC complete blood count
CC cubic centimeter same as ml
CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cx cancel
D dextrose
DC discontinue/discharge
DISP dispense
Dx diagnosis
Dz disease
EE eyes and ears
EBL estimated blood loss
ECG/EKG electrocardiogram
ENG electroneurography
ENT ears, nose, and throat
ER emergency room
EUA examination under anesthesia
Ex examine/d
FU follow up
Fx fracture
G/GM gram
GI gastrointestinal
GSW gunshot wound
gtt(s) drop(s) (L. guttae)
H hour
HBC hit by car
HS at bedtime (L. hora somni, hour of sleep)
Hx history
IC intracardiac
ICE ice, compression, and elevate
+ice add ice
ICU intensive care unit
ID infectious diseases
Ig Immunoglobulin
IM intramuscular
IP intraperitoneal
ISO/isol isolation/isolated
IU international units
IV intravenous
L left
lb pound
LRS lactated Ringers solution
M meter squared
MG milligram
ML milliliter same as cc
Mod moderate
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
NaCl Sodium Chloride
NAD no acute distress
NG nasogastric
NPO nothing by mouth (L. nothing per os)
N/S normal saline
OD right eye (L. oculus dexter)
OR operating room
OS left eye (L. oculus sinister)
OT occupational therapy
OU both eyes (L. oculi unitas)
O/W otherwise
Ox/oxy/O2 oxygen
oz ounce
P after (post)/pint/plan
P-3 patient pain profile
PC after eating
PO by mouth (L. per os)
Pos positive
PRN as needed (L. pro re nata)
Q every (L. quaque)
Q4° every four hours around the clock
Qf rate of fluid filtration
q.i.d. four times daily (L. quater in die)
q.o.d. every other day (L. quaque altera die)
QS quantity sufficient
R right
RBC red blood cell
RBG random blood glucose
RDI recommended daily intake
Re√ recheck
Red. Reduce
Ref Doc referring doctor
RICE rest, ice, compress, elevate
R/O rule out
Scope perform endoscopy
Script prescription
SID once daily (L. semel in die)
SIG let it be written (directions to patient)
SIL seriously ill list
SOL solution/soluble (surprise)
STAT immediately (L. statim)
SQ subcutaneously
Susp suspension
Sx symptoms/surgery
T temperature
TAB tablet
T/TBSP tablespoon
TID three times daily (L. ter in die)
TKO to keep open
TPR temperature, pulse, respiration
tsp. teaspoon
Tx treatment
UA urinalysis
URI upper respiratory (tract) infection
US ultrasound
UTI urinary tract infection
uto unable to obtain
WB whole blood
WBC white blood cell
wd wound
W/U workup
X times
XD times daily
X&D examination and diagnosis
X-ed crossed
XKO not knocked out
XR x-ray
XS excess/cross-section
YO years old
YOB year of birth
Z, zeta no effect
Comments