Medical Abbreviations From Patient Chart

Front 1

A&O

Back 1

alert and oriented

Hint 1

this basically means that you know who you are

Front 2

A-fib

Back 2

atrial fibrillation

Hint 2

an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) that involves the two upper chambers of the heart

Front 3

ALT, AST

Back 3

alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase

Hint 3

these are enzymes measured in liver function tests

Front 4

APAP

Back 4

acetaminophen

Hint 4

also known as tylenol

Front 5

ARF

Back 5

acute renal failure; acute respiratory failure

Hint 5

can mean two different conditions, both which are critical.

Front 6

BID

Back 6

twice a day

Hint 6

in latin: Bis in Die

Front 7

BM

Back 7

bone marrow; breast milk; basement membrane; bowel movement; basal metabolism...

Hint 7

this acronym can mean many things, a lot of which are related to food in one way or another...

Front 8

BMI

Back 8

body mass index

Hint 8

an arbitrary, and often not so accurate, measure of ones healthy weight.

Front 9

BP

Back 9

blood pressure

Hint 9

if this gets too low you faint, and talking to your parents can make this go up a lot.

Front 10

BPH

Back 10

benign prostatic hypertrophy

Hint 10

most folks who have this condition are middle-aged and elderly men

Front 11

BS

Back 11

blood sugar; before sleep; brain stem...

Hint 11

another one that can have multiple meanings, one of which has to do with insulin, another that has to do with controlling certain vital functions...

Front 12

BUN

Back 12

blood urea nitrogen

Hint 12

a type of test that measures a certain type of waste product

Front 13

CAD

Back 13

coronary artery disease

Hint 13

the number one "killer" in the U.S. Plaque is this killer's weapon of choice.

Front 14

CBC

Back 14

complete blood count

Hint 14

a common test used to determine general health status

Front 15

CPAP

Back 15

continuous/constant positive airway pressure

Hint 15

this is a method of respiratory ventilation used primarily in the treatment of sleep apnea

Front 16

CTA

Back 16

Computed Tomography Angiography; Clear to Auscultation

Hint 16

this can have two very different meanings. one refers to an examination that uses x-rays to visualize blood flow in arterial and venous vessels throughout the body (this is probably the most likely definition of the acronym).
the other, less likely meaning, refers to examining the lungs.

Front 17

DM

Back 17

diabetes mellitus

Hint 17

a syndrome that causes hyperglycemia. it's name is related to one of the symptoms of this syndrome that involves a "honey" tasting urine.

Front 18

ED

Back 18

erectile dysfunction; eating disorder; emergency department;

Hint 18

this acronym has several meanings as well, all very different.

Front 19

ENMT

Back 19

ear, nose, mouth and throat

Hint 19

most of these are found on your face or head.

Front 20

GERD

Back 20

gastroesophageal reflux disorder

Hint 20

one of the major symptoms for this condition is heartburn.

Front 21

Gtt

Back 21

drops

Hint 21

a unit of measurement

Front 22

H&P

Back 22

history and physical

Hint 22

a type of exam that is the starting point of the patient's "story" as to why they sought medical attention

Front 23

HPI

Back 23

history of present illness

Hint 23

refers to a detailed interview prompted by the chief complaint or presenting symptom

Front 24

HR

Back 24

heart rate; hospital report; high risk;

Hint 24

multiple meanings.

Front 25

HTN

Back 25

hypertension

Hint 25

this is what happens when you talk to your parents over a long period of time. or if you eat taco bell over a long period of time.

Front 26

IM, IV, IVDA, IVP

Back 26

intramuscular, intravenous, intravenous drug abuse, intravenous push

Hint 26

different ways to stick things into yourself

Front 27

LFT

Back 27

liver function test

Hint 27

an exam to make sure you haven't completely messed up this amazing organ.

Front 28

MDI

Back 28

metered-dose inhaler; multiple daily injection

Hint 28

two meanings. one has to do with asthma (usually), the other has to do with insulin (usually)

Front 29

MI

Back 29

myocardial infarction

Hint 29

also known as a heart attack

Front 30

MMSE

Back 30

mini mental state examination

Hint 30

a brief 30-point questionnaire test that is used to assess cognition.

Front 31

MR

Back 31

medical records; magnetic resonance

Hint 31

several meanings. one has to do with filing and keeping track of stuff, the other is used a lot in radiology.

Front 32

NKDA

Back 32

no known drug allergies

Hint 32

this is generally a good thing

Front 33

NPH

Back 33

Neutral Protein Hagedorn

Hint 33

a type of insulin

Front 34

NS

Back 34

normal saline

Hint 34

this is a substance that you often find in IV bags.

Front 35

ND/NT

Back 35

Non-distended/non-tender

Hint 35

refers to the state of the abdomen

Front 36

NTG

Back 36

Nitroglycerin; normal tension glaucoma(?)

Hint 36

possibly two means. the more likely meaning is a heart medication (and also an explosive). the other meaning refers to a condition of the optic nerve

Front 37

OD

Back 37

right eye, overdose, once a day, oxygen depleted.

Hint 37

can have several different meanings. one of them is related to the latin words "oculus dexter." another refers to having too much of a drug, another refers to how often to take a drug. lastly, this is something that can happen when you don't breath or you have to much plaque in your arteries.

Front 38

ODT

Back 38

Orally Disintegrating Tablet

Hint 38

melts in your mouth, not in your hands.

Front 39

OSA

Back 39

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Hint 39

a CPAP could help this person out.

Front 40

OU

Back 40

both eyes

Hint 40

from the latin words "ocular uterque"

Front 41

PERRLA

Back 41

Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive To Light And Accommodation

Hint 41

this acronym particularly relates to ophthalmology and emergency medicine

Front 42

PO

Back 42

by mouth

Hint 42

one of the most common ways to consume alcohol.

Front 43

Ppd

Back 43

postpartum depression

Hint 43

this mostly affects women after childbirth

Front 44

PRN

Back 44

as need

Hint 44

in latin: pro re nata

Front 45

QD

Back 45

once a day / daily

Hint 45

another latin one, Quaque Die

Front 46

QHS

Back 46

every bedtime

Hint 46

in latin: quaque hora somni

Front 47

QID

Back 47

four times a day

Hint 47

latin: quarter in die

Front 48

ROS

Back 48

review of symptoms

Hint 48

something you want to do as a healthcare professional before you diagnose someone.

Front 49

RR

Back 49

relative risk

Hint 49

used in statistics and mathematical epidemiology

Front 50

RUQ

Back 50

right upper quadrant

Hint 50

a portion of the abdomenS/P

Front 51

S/P

Back 51

sharp and pink

Hint 51

you usually use ophthalmoscopy to determine if this characteristic is present or not.

Front 52

Scr

Back 52

scratch (?)

Hint 52

what you do when you got an itch

Front 53

SL

Back 53

sublingual

Hint 53

where you stick a thermometer. one that is PO, that is.

Front 54

SOB

Back 54

shortness of breath

Hint 54

this will happen if i try to run for 5 minutesT

Front 55

TSH

Back 55

thyroid stimulating hormone

Hint 55

this a chemical that relates to the shield shaped organ in your throat

Front 56

UA

Back 56

urinalysis / urine analysis

Hint 56

an exam that you do if you suspect you have a UTI, or if you are on probation for drug use.

Front 57

UOP

Back 57

urinary output

Hint 57

pretty much just how much you pee.

Front 58

UR

Back 58

upper right; urinary rupture

Hint 58

two possible meanings: one describes a certain location, the other describes something that sounds extremely painful that involves your waste removal system.