Abbreviations
A-a Arterial-alveolar
AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysm
ABC Airway, breathing, circulation
ABG Arterial blood gas
ABX Antibiotics
AC Assist-control ventilation
ACA Anterior cerebral artery
ACC American College of Cardiology
ACE Angiotensin converting enzyme
ACE-I Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor
ACLS Advanced cardiac life support
ACS Acute coronary syndrome
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone
ACV Assist-control ventilation
ADC AIDS dementia complex
ADH Anti-diuretic hormone
AF Atrial fibrillation
AFB Acid-fast bacilli
A-fib Atrial fibrillation
AG Anion gap
AHA American Heart Association
AI Aortic insufficiency
AI Adrenal insufficiency
AICD Automated implantable cardiac defibrillator
AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIN Acute interstitial nephritis
ALL Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
ALS Amyotropic lateral sclerosis
ALT Alanine aminotransferase
AML Acute myeloblastic leukemia
AMS Altered mental status
ANA Anti-nuclear antibody
ANCA Anti-nuclear cytoplasmic antibody
APACHE Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation
APC Activated protein C
ARB Angiotensin receptor blocker
ARDS Acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARF Acute renal failure
ARRD Acute reversible renal dysfunction
AS Aortic stenosis
ASA American Society of Anesthesiologists
ASA Aspirin
AST Aspartate aminotransferase
AT Atrial tachycardia
A-thal Alpha thalassemia
ATN Acute tubular necrosis
ATP Adenosine triphosphate
AV Atrioventricular
AV Arteriovenous
AVM Arteriovenous malformation
AVNRT AV nodal reentrant tachycardia
AVRT AV reentrant tachycardia
BAL Bronchoalveolar lavage
BCx Blood culture
BG Blood glucose
BID Twice a day
BiPAP Bi-level positive airway pressure
BMI Body mass index
BMJ British Medical Journal
BMT Bone marrow transplant
BNP B-natriuretic peptide
BP Blood pressure
BPM Beats per minute
BRBPR Bright red blood per rectum
BSA Body surface area
BUN Blood urea nitrogen
BZD Benzodiazepine
C&S Culture and specificity
Ca Calcium
CA Cancer
CABG Coronary artery bypass grafting
CaCl2 Calcium chloride
CaCO3 Calcium carbonate
CAD Coronary artery disease
CaO2 Oxygen content
CAPD Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CCB Calcium-channel blocker
CCPD Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis
CCU Coronary care unit
CFU Colony-forming unit
CHF Congestive heart failure
CI Cardiac index
CIWA Clinical institute withdrawal assessment
CK Creatine kinase
CKD Chronic kidney disease
CK-MB Creatine kinase (myocardial fraction)
CLL Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
CML Chronic myelocytic leukemia
CMV Cytomegalovirus
CN Contrast nephropathy
CNS Central nervous system
CO Carbon monoxide
CO Cardiac output
CO2 Carbon dioxide
Cocci Coccidioidomycosis
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP Chest pain
CPAP Continuous positive airway pressure
CPK Creatine kinase
CPP Cerebral perfusion pressure
CPPD Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate
CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cr Creatinine
CrAg Cryptococcal antigen
CrCl Creatinine clearance
CRRT Continuous renal replacement therapy
Crypto Cryptococcosis
CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
CT Computed tomography
CVA Cerebrovascular accident
CVP Central venous pressure
CVVH Continous venovenous hemofiltration
CVVHD Continous venovenous hemodialysis
CVVHDF Continous venovenous hemodiafiltration
Cx Culture
CXR Chest x-ray
DBP Diastolic blood pressure
DDAVP Vasopressin
DDx Differential diagnosis
DI Diabetes insipidus
DIC Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Diff Differential
DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis
DLCO Diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide
DM Diabetes mellitus
DM Dermatomyositis
DMV Department of motor vehicles
DOT Directly observed therapy
DS Double strength
DT Delirium tremens
DTR Deep tendon reflex
DVT Deep venous thrombosis
Dz Disease
EBV Epstein-Barr virus
ECASA Enteric-coated aspirin
ECG Electrocardiogram
ED Emergency department
EEG Electroencephalogram
EGD Esophogastroduodenoscopy
EKG Electrocardiogram
ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
EMG Electromyogram
ER Emergency room
ERCP Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD End-stage renal disease
ESWL Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
EtOH Alcohol
ETT Exercise treadmill test
FENa Fractional excretion of sodium
FEV1 Forced expiratory capacity in one second
FFP Fresh frozen plasma
FH Family history
FIO2 Fractional inspired oxygen
FNA Fine needle biopsy
FQ Fluoroquinolone
FRC Functional residual capacity
FSGS Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
FUO Fever of unknown origin
FVC Forced vital capacity
GBM Glomerular basement membrane
GCA Giant cell arteritis
GCS Glasgow coma scale
GERD Gastroesophagel reflux disease
GFR Glomerular filtration rate
GI Gastrointestinal
GIB Gastrointestinal bleed
GN Glomerulonephritis
GSH Glutathione
GU Genitourinary
GVHD Graft versus host disease
H&P History and physical
HA Headache
HAART Highly active antiretroviral therapy
HAV Hepatitis A virus
HBV Hepatitis B virus
HCG Human chorionic gonadotropin
HCO3 Bicarbonate
Hct Hematocrit
HCTZ Hydrochlorothiazide
HCV Hepatitis C virus
HD Hemodialysis
HDL High-density lipoprotein
He Helium
Hgb Hemoglobin
HgbA1c Hemoglobin A1c
Histo Histoplasmosis
HIT Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
HME Heat moisture exchanger
HOB Head of bed
HOCM Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
HONKC Hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma
HPF High powered field
HR Heart rate
HSP Henoch-Schonlen purpura
HSV Herpes simplex virus
HTN Hypertension
HUS Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
IBD Inflammatory bowel disease
IBW Ideal body weight
ICP Intracranial pressure
ICU Intensive care unit
IE Infective endocarditis
IJ Internal jugular
IM Intramuscular
IMI Inferior myocardial infraction
INH Isoniazid
INR International normalized ratio
IPAP Inspiratory positive airway pressure
IR Interventional radiology
IV Intravenous
IVC Inferior vena cava
IVDU Intravenous drug use
IVF Intravenous fluids
IVP Intravenous push
JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association
JVP Jugular venous pulsation
K Potassium
KCl Potassium chloride
KI Potassium iodide
KS Kaposi sarcoma
KUB Kidneys ureters bladder (abdominal film)
LAD Left anterior descending artery
LBBB Left bundle branch block
LCx Left circumflex artery
LDH Lactate dehydrogenase
LDL Low-density lipoprotein
LDUH Low-dose ultrafractionated heparin
LFTs Liver function tests
LGIB Lower gastrointestinal bleed
LLQ Left lower quadrant
LMWH Low molecular weight heparin
LP Lumbar puncture
LR Lactated Ringer’s
LR Likelihood ratio
LTRA Leukotriene receptor antagonist
LUQ Left upper quadrant
LV Left ventricle
LVEDP Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
LVEF Left ventricular ejection fraction
LVH Left ventricular hypertrophy
MAC Mycobactrium avium complex
Mag Magnesium
MAHA Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
MAO Monoamine oxidase
MAP Mean arterial pressure
MAR Medication administration record
MCA Middle cerebral artery
MCP Metacarpophalangeal
MCV Mean corpuscular volume
MDI Meterd dose inhaler
MELD Mayo End-stage Liver Disease
Mg Magnesium
MgSO4 Magnesium sulfate
MI Myocardial infarction
MIF Maximal inspiratory force
MOM Milk of magnesia
MPO Myeloperoxidase
MR Mitral regurgitation
MRA Magnetic resonance angiography
MRI Magnetic resonance imagin
MRSA Methicillin-resistant staph aureus
MRSE Methicillin-resistant staph epidermis
MS Mental status
MS Mitral stenosis
MS Multiple sclerosis
MSH Melanocyte stimulating hormone
MSSA Methicillin-sensitive staph aureus
MSSE Methicillin-sensitive staph epidermis
MTHFR Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
MTP Metatarsophalangeal
MTX Methotrexate
MUGA Multiple gated acquisition
MVI Multivitamin
MVP Mitral valve prolapse
N/V Nausea/vomiting
N/V/D Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
Na Sodium
NaHCO3 Sodium bicarbonate
Nebs Nebulizers
NEJM New England Journal of Medicine
NG Nasogastric
NH4+ Ammonium
NIPPV Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
Nl Normal
NNT Number needed to treat
NPO Nothing per mouth
NQWMI Non-Q-wave myocardial infarction
NRB Non-rebreather
NS Normal saline
NSAIDs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSTEMI Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
NTE Not to exceed
NTG Nitroglycerin
OA Osteoarthritis
OR Operating room
Osm Osmolality
OTC Over the counter
PA line Pulmonary artery catheter
PAN Polyarteritis nodosa
PAP Pulmonary artery pressure
PBS Peripheral blood smear
PCI Percutanous coronary intervention
PCKD Polycystic kidney disease
pCO2 Partial pressure of carbon dioxide
PCP Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia
PCR Polymerase chain reaction
PCV Pressure control ventilation
PCW Pulmonary capillary wedge
PCWP Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
PD Peritoneal dialysis
PE Pulmonary embolism
PEA Pulseless electrical activity
PEEP Positive end-expiratory pressure
PEG tube Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
PEX Physical exam
PF Peak flow
PICC Peripherally inserted central catheter
PID Pelvic inflammatory disease
PIP joint Proximal interphalangeal joint
PLT Platelets
PM Polymyositis
PMH Past medical history
P-MIBI Persantine-MIBI
PML
PMNs Neutrophils
PMR Polymyalgia rheumatica
PNA Pneumonia
PNH Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
PO By mouth
pO2 Partial pressure of oxygen
PO4 Phosphorous
PPi pseudogout?
PPL Plateau pressure
PR Per rectum
PRBC Packed red blood cells
PRN As needed
PRSP Penicillin-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae
PS Pressure support
PSVT Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
PT Physical therapy
PT Prothrombin time
Pt. Patient
PTCA Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PTH Parathyroid hormone
P-Thal Persantine thallium
PTHrP Parathyroid related protein
PTT Partial thromboplastin time
PTX Pneumothorax
PUD Peptic ulcer disease
PVR Post-void residual
QD Once a day
QHS Once a night
QID Four times a day
QOD Once every other day
QTc Corrected QT interval
R/O MI Rule out myocardial infarction
RA Rheumatoid arthritis
RA Right atrium
RBBB Right bundle branch block
RBC Red blood cell
RCA Right coronary artery
RCT Randomized controlled trial
RDW Red cell distribution width
RF Risk factor
RI Reticulocyte index
RLQ Right lower quadrant
ROS Review of systems
RPGN Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
RR Respiratory rate
RSI Rapid sequence intubation
RT Respiratory therapy
RTA Renal tubular acidosis
RUQ Right upper quadrant
RV Right ventricle
RVH Right ventricular hypertrophy
RVMI Right ventricular myocardial infarction
S/P Status-post
SAH Subarachnoid hemorrhage
SaO2 Oxygen saturation
SBE Subacute bacterial endocarditis
SBP Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
SBP Systolic blood pressure
SC Subcutaneous
SCD Sequential compression devices
ScvO2 Central venous oxygen saturation
SES Sick euthyroid syndrome
SFGH San Francisco General Hospital
SH Social history
SIMV Synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation
SIRS Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
SL Sublingual
SLE Systemic lupus erythematosis
SOB Shortness of breath
Sosm Serum osmolality
SPEP Serum protein electropheresis
SQ Subcutaneous
SSRI Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
STEMI ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
SV Stroke volume
SVC Superior vena cava
SVR Systemic vascular resistance
SVT Supraventricular tachycardia
T.bili Total bilirubin
TB Tuberculosis
TBW Total body water
TCA Tricyclic antidepressant
TEE Transesophageal echocardiogram
TFT Thyroid function tests
TIA Transient ischemic attack
TIBC Total iron binding capacity
TID Three times a day
TLC Triple lumen catheter
TLSO Thoracolumbosacral orthotic
TM Tympanic membrane
TMP/SMX Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
Toxo Toxoplasmosis
t-PA Tissue plasminogen activator
TPN Total parenteral nutrition
TRALI Transfusion related acute lung injury
TSH Thyroid stimulating hormone
TSI Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin
TTE Transthoracic echocardiogram
TTP Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
TV Tidal volume
UA Urinalysis
UAG Urine anion gap
UCl Urine chloride
UGIB Upper gastrointestinal bleed
UK Urine potassium
UNa Urine sodium
UO Urine output
UOP Urine output
UPEP Urine protein electrophoresis
UTI Urinary tract infection
Utox Urine toxicology screen
V/Q Ventilation/perfusion scan
VC Vital capacity
VDRL Venereal disease research laboratory
VF Ventricular fibrillation
VRE Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
VT Ventricular tachycardia
VZV Varicella zoster virus
WBC White blood cells
WPW Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome