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Nuursing clinical Acronyms & abbreviations...

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ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS USED IN MEDICINE Assoc. Prof. Warwick Carter MB.BS., FRACGP, FAMA

Abbreviations, acronyms, symbols and postnominals that may be encountered in medical books, magazines, letters, research articles and advertisements, or patient records, prescriptions and reports. The interpretation of an abbreviation may vary in different contexts.

The use of medical acronyms and abbreviations should be discouraged.

PREFACE Abbreviations and acronyms seem to be multiplying exponentially in modern medicine. Some are just a passing fad, or have only local significance; others, though, become widely used and recognised. Unfortunately, remembering the details about the alphabet soup that may appear in medical records or reports has become an impossible task for the busy clinician. This book is aimed to assist doctors, medical students, nurses and others involved in reading medical notes and reports in interpreting the abbreviations and acronyms used by others. It is NOT designed to encourage their use in any way. The use of abbreviations and acronyms in medical records and reports may lead to errors in patient care as they may be misunderstood or misinterpreted. When acronyms and abbreviations are used, they should always be defined within the records, report etc. in which they appear, thus: “Mr. Jones has suffered a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). His CVA has left him with a left hemiplegia.” Not every abbreviation and acronym used in every clinical and geographical area of medicine can possibly be described in a book of this size, but it should include the majority of those encountered by most physicians. I trust that you will find this book useful in your practice. Warwick Carter Brisbane 2009

SYMBOLS Δ ψ Σ # † Θ

diagnosis / change psychiatry / psychiatrist sum / syphilis fracture / number death birth

NUMBERS 15/60 3/24 5/7 30/40 10/52 4/12 5 HIAA 7vPCV 14C 23vPPV

fifteen minutes three hours five days thirty weeks pregnant ten weeks four months 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid seven valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Carbon-14 23 valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

A A A2 A2RB A&E A&O A1AT AA aa AAA AAAGP AAD AAGP AAL AAO AAPM AAT AAV AB Ab ABD ABG ABN ABVD

Aedes / argon / artery / Ancyclostoma / Ascaris angiotensin 2 / aortic second sound angiotensin 2 receptor blocker accident and emergency alert and orientated alpha-1-antitrypsin Alcoholics Anonymous / amino acid / affected area equal quantities of each ingredient abdominal aortic aneurysm Australian Association of Academic General Practitioners antibiotic associated diarrhoea Australian Association of General Practitioners anterior axillary line alert awake oriented Australian Association of Practice Managers alpha1-antitrypsin adenovirus-associated virus abortion / abnormal antibody abdomen arterial blood gas abnormal adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblatine and dacarbazine

AC ac Ac ACE ACER ACh AChE ACL ACLE ACP ACRRM ACS ACTH AD ad lib ADD ADEC ADGP ADH ADHD ADIS ADL ad lib ADM ADP ADR ADT AE AED AF AFB AFP AG Ag A/G AGES AGPAL A-GR AH AHD AHF AHIA AI AID

acromioclavicular / acute / anterior chamber (eye) ante cibum (before food) / acetyl actinium angiotensin converting enzyme Australian Council for Educational Research acetylcholine acetylcholinesterase anterior cruciate ligament acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus acid phosphatase; acetyl carrier protein Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine acute coronary syndrome / American College of Surgeons adrenocorticotrophic hormone Alzheimer disease / auris dextra (right ear) ad libitum (at freedom, as desired) attention deficit disorder Australian Drug Evaluation Commission Australian Divisions of General Practice antidiuretic hormone attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Australasian Drug Information Service activities of daily living as much as is necessary / liberally admission / admitted adenosine diphosphate adverse drug reaction adult diphtheria and tetanus (vaccine) / any damn thing above elbow anti-epilepsy drug atrial fibrillation acid fast bacillus alpha-fetoprotein / Australian Family Physician antigen silver albumin-globulin ratio Australian Gynaecological Endoscopic Society Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited albumin-globulin ratio after hours / Accuhaler / antihistamine / Allen & Hanburys advance health directive / after hours doctor anti-haemolytic factor Australian Health Insurance Association aortic incompetence / artificial intelligence artificial insemination by donor

AIDS AIH AIIRA AJ AK AKA Al alb alc Alk.Phos. ALL ALP ALT alt. AMA amb AMC AMD AMI AML amn AMO AMP amp ANA ANCA ANF ANS ant Ant-AChR ante AntiXa ANZFA AO AOB AON AP APA APC APH APPT APTT aq

acquired immune deficiency disorder artificial insemination by husband angiotensin two reuptake inhibitors ankle jerk above knee above knee amputation / alcoholic ketoacidosis aluminium albumin alcohol alkaline phosphatase acute lymphatic leukaemia alkaline phosphatase alanine amino transferase alternate / alternative Australian Medical Association / American Medical Association / antimitochondrial antibody / against medical advice ambulatory Australian Medical Council age-related macular degeneration anterior myocardial infarct acute myeloid leukaemia amniocentesis / amniotic fluid attending medical officer adenosine monophosphate ampoule / amputation antinuclear antibody anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies antinuclear autoantibodies, fluorescent / antinuclear factor autonomic nervous system anterior anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody before anti-factor Xa Australian and New Zealand Food Authority alert and orientated alcohol on breath area of need anteroposterior / abdomino-perineal / antepartum Australian Physiotherapy Association activated protein C ante-partum haemorrhage activated partial prothrombin time activated partial thromboplastin time aqua (water)

APR Ar ARB ARC ARD ARDGP ARDS ARF ARM AROM ART AS As ASA ASAP ASD ASOT AST At AT III ATFL ATP ATSI Au aud AV AVF AVN AW Ax AXR AZT

abdomino-perineal resection argon angiotensin receptor blocker AIDS related complex acute respiratory distress Australian Rural Divisions of General Practice acute/adult respiratory distress syndrome acute renal failure / acute respiratory failure artificial rupture of membranes artificial rupture of membranes assisted reproductive technologies / artery aortic stenosis; auris sinistra (left ear) arsenic acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) as soon as possible atrial septal defect antistreptolysin O titre aspartate aminotransferase astatine antithrombin III anterior tibio-fibula ligament adenosine triphosphate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gold auditory atrioventricular / arteriovenous arteriovenous fistula atrioventricular node atomic weight anxiety / axilla abdominal x-ray azidothymidine

B B B2M BA Ba BAL BAppSc BBB BCC BCG BCh

Bacillus / bath / blood / boron beta-2 Microglobulin Bachelor of Arts barium British Anti-Lewesite Bachelor of Applied Science blood-brain barrier / bundle branch block basal cell carcinoma Bacille Calmette-Guérin (TB) Bachelor of Surgery

BChir bd BDSc BE Be Beta HCG BHA Bi bid BIH bil BK BKA BM BMA BMD BMedSc BMI BMJ BMR BMT BNF BNO BNS BOccThy BOM BOO BOZ BP BPH BPhty BPM BPO BPP Br BR BS BSA BSL BSP BSpThy BT BTU BTZ

Bachelor of Surgery (UK) bis die (twice a day) Bachelor of Dental Surgery barium enema / below elbow beryllium beta human chorionic gonadotrophin Bachelor of Health Administration bismuth bis in die (twice in a day) bilateral inguinal hernias bilirubin below knee below knee amputation Bachelor of Medicine / bowel movement / bone marrow British Medical Association bone mineral density Bachelor of Medical Science body mass index British Medical Journal basal metabolic rate bone marrow transplant British National Formulary bowels not opened Blue Nursing Service Bachelor of Occupational Therapy bilateral otitis media bladder outlet obstruction bismuth oxide and zinc cream blood pressure / British Pharmacopoeia benign prostatic hypertrophy Bachelor of Physiotherapy beats per minute benzyl peroxide Better Practice Program / brand price premium breech (pregnancy) / Brucella / bromine bed rest Bachelor of Surgery / bowel sounds / breath sounds / blood sugar body surface area blood sugar level bromsulfophthalein Bachelor of Speech Therapy bleeding time British thermal unit butazolidin

BUN BW Bx Bz

blood urea nitrogen birth weight / body weight / bi-weekly biopsy benzoyl

C

carbon / calorie / capsule / Celcius / cephalic (pregnancy) / cervical / cervix / Clostridium / complement cum (with) cervical vertebrae one to seven culture and sensitivity care of / complains of cycles per second / culture and sensitivity calcium carbohydrate (cancer) antigen / cancer / cardiac arrest / community acquired circa (approximately) coronary artery bypass graft coreoathetoid cerebral palsy coronary artery calcification score coronary artery disease carbonic anhydrase inhibitors calorie complementary and alternate medicine cyclic adenosine monophosphate capsule continual ambulatory peritoneal dialysis cancer associated serum antigen computerised axial tomography catheter caesarean birth complete blood count capillary blood gas cognitive behaviour therapy chief complaint cubic centimetre calcium channel antagonist calcium channel blocker congestive cardiac failure cyclic citrulinated peptide coronary care unit / catch clean urine cardiac disease / contagious disease cadmium Centre for Disease Control (USA)

C c. C1-7 C&S c/o c/s Ca CA ca. CABG CACP CACS CAD CAI cal CAM cAMP cap CAPD CASA CAT cath CB CBC CBG CBT CC cc CCA CCB CCF CCP CCU CD Cd CDC

CDT CE CEA CEO ceph CF CFC CFP CFS CFT CG CHA ChB CHD CHF CHO chol chr CI CJD CK CKD Cl CLE CLL CLO cm CMA CMCJ CME CMI CML CMV CN CNS CO Co CO2 CoA COAD COC Comm. Comp. COPD

child diphtheria and tetanus vaccine continuing education carcinoembryonic antigen chief executive officer cephalic (pregnancy) cardiac failure / complement fixation / cystic fibrosis chlorofluorocarbon Certificate in Family Planning. chronic fatigue syndrome complement fixation test chorionic gonadotrophin Certificate of Health Administration. Bachelor of Surgery (British University) congenital heart disease / coronary heart disease congestive heart failure / chronic heart failure carbohydrate cholesterol chronic cardiac index / cardiac insufficiency / colour index Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease creatine kinase chronic kidney disease chloride / chlorine / Clostridium cutaneous lupus erythematosus chronic lymphatic leukaemia Campylobacter like organism centimetre Canadian Medical Association / certified medical assistant (USA) carpo-metacarpal joint continuing medical education consumer medical information chromic myeloid leukaemia cytomegalovirus cranial nerve(s) central nervous system carbon monoxide / cardiac output / complains of cobalt carbon dioxide coenzyme A chronic obstructive airways disease combined oral contraceptive comment compound / compensation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

cor COX CP CPAP CPD CPH CPK CPR cps CR Cr CRF CRP CS Cs CSF CSIRO CSL CT CTG CTR CTS Cu cu CV CVA CVD CVL CVP CVS Cx CXR CYP

coronary cyclooxygenase cerebral palsy / chest pain continuous positive airways pressure cephalopelvic disproportion / continuing professional development Certificate in Public Health. creatine phospho kinase cardio-pulmonary resuscitation cycles per second controlled release / computed radiography creatinine / chromium chronic renal failure cross reactive protein caesarean section caesium cerebrospinal fluid Commonwealth Scientific Institute and Research Organisation Commonwealth Serum Laboratories computerised tomography / coronary thrombosis / cerebral tumour cardiotocograph cardio-thoracic ratio / carpal tunnel repair carpal tunnel syndrome copper cubic cardiovascular / curriculum vitae cerebrovascular accident / costovertebral angle cardiovascular disease central venous line central venous pressure cardiovascular system /chorionic villus sampling cervix / culture / cancel chest x-ray cytochrome P-450

D D d D5W D&C DA dB DC DCBE DCH

daughter / decreased / dioptre / dorsal day dextrose 5% in water dilation and curettage Diploma in Anaesthetics / developmental age decibel direct current / discharge / discontinue double contrast barium enema Diploma in Child Health

DCh Doctor of Surgery DCIS ductal carcinoma in situ DCP Diploma in Clinical Pathology. DD differential diagnosis / discharge diagnosis DDSc Doctor of Dental Science. DDU Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound. DES description / diethylstilboestrol DEXA dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DFP Diploma in Family Planning DHEA dihydroepiandrosterone DHODH dihydrooroate dyhdrogenase DI diabetes insipidus / diagnostic imaging DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation DIPJ distal interphalangeal joint DipMedSurg Diploma in Medical Surgery (Papua New-Guinea) DIU death in utero DJD degenerative joint disease DKA diabetic ketoacidosis DLE disseminated lupus erythematosus DM Doctor of Medicine / diabetes mellitus / diastolic murmur DMARD disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide DNA did not attend/deoxyribonucleic acid DNR do not resuscitate DO Diploma in Ophthalmology DOA dead on arrival DOB date of birth DObstRACOG Diploma in Obstetrics from the Royal Aust. College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists DOE dyspnoea on exertion DPH Diploma in Public Health DPI dry powder inhaler DPM Diploma in Psychological Medicine DPT diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus DPyd deoxypyridinoline DR delivery room DRACOG Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists DRE digital rectal examination DRG diagnosis related group DS Doctor of Surgery / double strength / discharge summary DSA digital subtraction angiography DSAP disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (of Mental Disorders)

DT DTH DTM DTP DTPa DTR DTs DU DUI DVA DVT DW Dx

delirium tremens Diploma in Tropical Health. Diploma in Tropical Medicine diphtheria tetanus pertussis (vaccine) diphtheria tetanus pertussis adsorbed (vaccine) deep tendon reflex delirium tremens duodenal ulcer driving under influence Department of Veteran Affairs deep venous thrombosis dextrose water diagnosis

E e. EAA eAG EBM EBV EC ECF ECG ECT ED EDC EDD EDP EDTA EEG EENT eGFR EGFR EHEC EKG ELISA EMG EMS EMW ENA ENG Eng ENT

electrolytes / engaged (pregnancy) / Escherichia ex (without) essential amino acids estimated average glucose evidence based medicine / expressed breast milk Epstein-Barr virus enteric coated extracellular fluid electrocardiograph electroconvulsive therapy effective dose / emergency department / eating and drinking estimated date of confinement expected date of delivery end diastolic pressure ethylenediaminete- traacetic acid electroencephalogram ears eyes nose throat estimated glomerular filtration rate epidermal growth factor receptor Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli Infection electrokardiogramme (German - ECG) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay electromyogram emergency medical service early morning waking extractable nuclear antigen electronystagmogram engaged (pregnancy) ear, nose & throat

E

E/O EPAP EPC epis EPO EPP EPS ER ERCP ERG ERV ESP ESR EST ESWL ESWT Et. ETOH ETR ETT EUA EUC Ex ex aq ex lac exp ext

excision of expiratory positive airways pressure enhanced primary care episiotomy evening primrose oil electrophoretic pattern of plasma electrophysiological studies extended release / emergency room endoscopic retrograde cholecysto-pancreatography electroretinogram expiratory reserve volume extrasensory perception erythrocyte sedimentation rate exercise stress test extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy extracorporeal shock wave therapy etiology ethanol effective thyroxine ratio endotracheal tube examination under anaesthesia electrolytes urea creatinine exercise / example ex aqua (with water) ex lactis (with milk) expire(s) external

F F FA FAAD FAAOO FAAP FACA FACD FACP FACR FACRRM FACS FAMA FAMAS FANA FB

Fahrenheit / father / female / femoral / finger / fluorine fluorescent antibody / first aid Fellow American Academy of Dermatology Fellow American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Fellow American Academy of Paediatrics Fellow American College of Anaesthetists Fellow Australian College of Dermatology Fellow American College of Physicians Fellow American College of Radiologists Fellow Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Fellow American College of Surgeons Fellow of the Australian Medical Association Fellow Australian Medical Acupuncture Society fluorescent antinuclear antibodies foreign body

FBC FBG FBS(L) FC FCAP FDA FDP Fe FEF FESS FEV1 FFP FH FHR fL Fl fl FM FMF FMH FMNF FMP FNAC FOBT FRACDS FRACGP FRACOG FRACP FRACR FRACS FRANZCP FRCGP FRCOG FRCP FRCPath FRCPsych FRCS FS FSH FT ft FTA

full blood count fasting blood glucose fasting blood sugar (level) film coated Fellow College of American Pathologists Food and Drug Administration (USA) fibrin degradation products / flexor digitorum profundus iron / ferrous forced expiratory flow functional endoscopic sinus surgery forced expiratory volume in one second fresh frozen plasma foetal heart / family history foetal heart rate femtolitre fluid flaccid family medicine foetal movements felt foetomaternal haemorrhage foetal movements not felt Family Medicine Program fine needle aspiration cytology faecal occult blood test Fellow Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons Fellow Royal Australian College of General Practitioner Fellow Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Fellow Royal Australian College of Physicians Fellow Royal Australian College of Radiologists Fellow Royal Australian College of Surgeons. Fellow Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Fellow Royal College of General Practitioners (UK) Fellow Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (United Kingdom) Fellow Royal College of Physicians (UK) Fellow Royal College of Pathologists (UK) Fellow Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) Fellow Royal College of Surgeons (UK) flexible sigmoidoscopy follicle stimulating hormone falling titre / full term (pregnancy) foot fluorescent treponema antibody

FTE FTI FTT FU FUO FVC Fx

full time equivalent free thyroxine index failure to thrive fluorouracil / follow up fever of unknown origin forced vital capacity fracture

G g G6PD GA GABA GAD GAMSAT GB GBS GC GCS GE GERD GETT GFR GGT GH GHB GHb GHRF GI GIFT GIT GLP gm GM GMC GNC GnRH GORD GP GPCG GPEA GPET GPI

Giardia / gravida (pregnancies) gram / guttae (drops) glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase general anaesthetic gamma-amino butyric acid generalised anxiety disorder Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test gall bladder Group B Streptococcus gonococcal Glasgow Coma Scale gastroenterology / gastroenteritis gastroesophageal reflux disease general by endotracheal tube glomerular filtration rate gamma glutamyl transferase / transpeptidase growth hormone gamma-hydroxybutyrate glycosylated haemoglobin growth hormone releasing factor gastrointestinal gammete intrafallopian transfer gastrointestinal tract glucagon-like peptide gram grand mal General Medical Council (UK) general nursing care gonadotrophin releasing hormone gastro-oesophageal reflux disease general practitioner / general paralysis General Practice Computer Group General Practice Education Australia General Practice Education and Training general paralysis of insane

G

GPPP GPRA gr grav GSAD GSW GTN GTP GTT gtt GU GUS GvHD GW GYN

generalised pustular psoriasis of pregnancy General Practice Registrars Association grain (1 grain = 65mg). gravida (pregnancy no.) generalised social anxiety disorder gunshot wound glyceryl trinitrate guanosine triphosphate glucose tolerance test guttae (drops) gastric ulcer / genito...