Common Clinical Abbreviations & Terms

Front 1

ABI

Back 1

ankle/brachial systolic pressure index

Front 2

a.c

Back 2

Before meals. As in taking a medicine before meals.

Front 3

a/g ratio:

Back 3

Albumin to globulin ratio.

Front 4

ACL:

Back 4

Anterior cruciate ligament

Front 5

ADL

Back 5

: activities of daily living

Front 6

Ad lib

Back 6

At liberty. For example, a patient may be permitted to move out of bed freely and orders would, therefore, be for activities to be ad lib.

Front 7

AICD

Back 7

automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Front 8

AKA

Back 8

Above the knee amputation

Front 9

AMS:

Back 9

: acute mountain sickness

Front 10

Anuric

Back 10

Not producing urine. A person who is anuric is often critical and may require dialysis.

Front 11

AST

Back 11

aspartate aminotransferase

Front 12

AV

Back 12

atrioventricular.

Front 13

BIA:

Back 13

bioelectrical impedance analysis

Front 14

b.i.d.:

Back 14

Twice daily. As in taking a medicine twice daily.

Front 15

BKA

Back 15

: Below the knee amputation

Front 16

BLS:

Back 16

basic life support

Front 17

BP:

Back 17

Blood pressure--one of the "vital signs."

Front 18

BR:

Back 18

breathing reserve.

Front 19

BUN:

Back 19

blood urea nitrogen.

Front 20

C

Back 20

ceiling (heat stress) limit.

Front 21

C&S

Back 21

culture and sensitivity, performed to detect infection

Front 22

C/O

Back 22

complaint of. The patient's expressed concern

Front 23

CABG(

Back 23

coronary artery bypass graft (surgery).

Front 24

CAD

Back 24

coronary artery disease.

Front 25

cap:

Back 25

capsule.

Front 26

CBC

Back 26

complete blood count.

Front 27

CC

Back 27

chief complaint. The patient's main concern.

Front 28

cc

Back 28

cubic centimeters.

Front 29

Chem panel:

Back 29

chemistry panel. A comprehensive screening blood test

Front 30

CHD:

Back 30

coronary heart disease.

Front 31

CHF

Back 31

congestive heart failure.

Front 32

CHO:

Back 32

carbohydrate.

Front 33

CI:

Back 33

cardiac index.

Front 34

C/O:

Back 34

care of, complains of.

Front 35

COPD:

Back 35

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Front 36

CPAP

Back 36

continuous positive airway pressure.

Front 37

CPK

Back 37

creatine phosphokinase.

Front 38

CPR:

Back 38

cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Front 39

CRQ:

Back 39

Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire.

Front 40

CVA:

Back 40

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Front 41

DBP:

Back 41

diastolic blood pressure.

Front 42

DC or D/C:

Back 42

Discontinue or discharge. For example, a doctor will D/C a drug or DC a patient from the hospital.

Front 43

DDX:

Back 43

Differential diagnosis.The variety of diagnostic possibilities being considered.

Front 44

DM:

Back 44

Diabetes mellitus.

Front 45

DNR:

Back 45

: Do not resuscitate

Front 46

DOB:

Back 46

date of birth.

Front 47

DOE

Back 47

dyspnea on exertion. Shortness of breath with activity.

Front 48

DOMS:

Back 48

delayed onset muscle soreness.

Front 49

EF:

Back 49

ejection fraction.

Front 50

EIB:

Back 50

exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Front 51

EIH:

Back 51

exercise-induced hypotension

Front 52

ERV:

Back 52

expiratory reserve volume.

Front 53

ETOH:

Back 53

: alcohol.

Front 54

FC:

Back 54

functional capacity.

Front 55

FEV1:

Back 55

forced expiratory volume in one second

Front 56

FFM:

Back 56

fat-free mass.

Front 57

FIO2:

Back 57

fraction of inspired oxygen.

Front 58

FICO2

Back 58

fraction of inspired carbon dioxide.

Front 59

FN:

Back 59

false negative

Front 60

FP:

Back 60

false positive.

Front 61

FRV

Back 61

functional residual volume.

Front 62

FVC

Back 62

forced vital capacity.

Front 63

Fx

Back 63

fracture.

Front 64

gtt or GTTS:

Back 64

drops.

Front 65

GXT:

Back 65

graded exercise test.