Slang & Jargon

Front 1

a-fib, A-fib, or Afib

Back 1

Atrial fibrillation

a severe cardiac arrhythmia

Front 2

alk phos

Back 2

Alkaline phosphatase

a lab value for a chemical in the blood

Front 3

appy

Back 3

Appendectomy or appendicitis

excision of the appendix or infection/inflammation of the appendix

Front 4

bicarb

Back 4

Bicarbonate

one of the electrolytes, with sodium, potassium, and chloride

Front 5

bili

Back 5

Bilirubin

a lab value for liver function testing

Front 6

CBC with diff

Back 6

CBC (complete blood count) with differential

the percentages of different types of white cells in the blood

Front 7

caps

Back 7

Capsules

a form of medications

Front 8

cath

Back 8

Catheter or catheterization

a tube or the placement of tubes in the body

Front 9

chemo

Back 9

Chemotherapy

treatment with chemical compounds, usually referring to cancer regimens

Front 10

chole

Back 10

Cholecystectomy

excision of the gallbladder

Front 11

crit

Back 11

Hematocrit

test for packed red cells in the blood

Front 12

DC

Back 12

Discontinue or discharge, past tense DC'd, sometimes dc/dc'd 

acceptable in a clinic or nurse's note but not in a formal document

Front 13

detox

Back 13

Detoxification

treatment for acute alcohol abuse or other drug overuse

Front 14

dig

Back 14

Digoxin or digitalis (pronounced with a short i and g sounding like j)

medication for cardiac problems

Front 15

dip sesta

Back 15

Dipyridamole sestamibi a

nuclear x-ray exam

Front 16

double J stent

Back 16

JJ stent

a surgical device for keeping tubes in place

Front 17

echo

Back 17

Echocardiogram

recording of heart function by analyzing sound waves

Front 18

eos

Back 18

Eosinophils

white blood cells that are part of the CBC with differential

Front 19

exam

Back 19

Examination

evaluation, as in physical examination or Mental Status Examination

Front 20

flex sig

Back 20

Flexible sigmoidoscopy

inspection of the sigmoid, the S-shaped lower portion of the colon, with a flexible endoscopic instrument

Front 21

Foley

Back 21

Foley catheter

a catheter commonly used during surgical procedures for draining urine from the bladder

Front 22

HCTZ

Back 22

Hydrochlorothiazide

a medication for the control of hypertension and edema

Front 23

hem/onc

Back 23

Hematology/oncology

the medical specialty that deals with cancer and blood problems

Front 24

hep C (A, B)

Back 24

Hepatitis C (A, B)

liver disease characterized by infection and inflammation

Front 25

K

Back 25

Potassium

the chemical symbol for the element potassium. This is an acceptable usage

Front 26

KCL (l)

Back 26

Potassium chloride

the chemical formula for potassium chloride; it is often given to cardiac patients whose potassium is depleted by diuretic medications, such as Lasix. This is an acceptable usage

Front 27

lac

Back 27

Laceration

a cut produced by trauma

Front 28

lymphs

Back 28

Lymphocytes

another type of white blood cell included in the CBC with differential

Front 29

lytes

Back 29

Electrolytes

usually sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate; they are blood chemistries evaluated in laboratory studies

Front 30

mag

Back 30

Magnesium

a chemical in the blood, also a medication given for some medical conditions, such as alcohol overdose

Front 31

meds

Back 31

Medications

drugs given to patients; pharmacopeia

Front 32

mets

Back 32

Metastases (singular met/metastasis)

the spread of malignant neoplasm—cancer—from the primary site to one or more secondary sites

Front 33

migs

Back 33

Milligrams (written as mg)

metric unit of measurement, the most common form of drug dosage

Front 34

mikes

Back 34

Micrograms (written as mcg)

metric unit of measurement smaller than the milligram, also used in some drug dosages

Front 35

monos

Back 35

Monocytes

white blood cells that are a part of the CBC with differential

Front 36

nebs

Back 36

Nebulizers

an aerated form of medications given for pulmonary problems such as asthma

Front 37

neuro

Back 37

Neurological or neurology

referring to the medical specialty or to the part of the physical exam that evaluates neurologic or central nervous system function

Front 38

neuropsych

Back 38

Neuropsychiatric or neuropsychiatry

pertaining to the study of the combination of neurology and psychiatry—often related, since both study brain function

Front 39

O2 sat

Back 39

Oxygen saturation

the amount of oxygen present in the blood; measured by pulse oximetry

Front 40

path

Back 40

Pathology

the study of the essential nature of disease, particularly as it relates to changes in tissues, organs, etc. Also the cause of disease

Front 41

perf

Back 41

Perforation

a hole, as in a perforated eardrum or perforated bowel

Front 42

preop

Back 42

Preoperative

Before an operation. Occasionally, but rarely, a dictator will use the term "preopped" (alternative spelling "preopp'd"). This is not really a short form for anything that can reasonably be expanded without rewriting the sentence. It is an example of a slang/jargon term that "more accurately communicates meaning" than any possible expansion of it would

Front 43

postop

Back 43

Postoperative

after an operation

Front 44

prepped

Back 44

Prepared

a short form commonly used in surgical reports; e.g., "The patient was prepped and draped"

Front 45

psych

Back 45

Psychiatry, psychology

the specialties that address the mind and mental processes

Front 46

pulse ox

Back 46

Pulse oximetry

the process of determining oxygen saturation by use of machine measurements

Front 47

regurg

Back 47

Regurgitation

flow in the opposite direction from normal, as in vomiting stomach contents or backward flow of the blood through vascular structures

Front 48

rehab

Back 48

Rehabilitation

the process of restoring normal form and function after injury or illness by means of physical, psychosocial, vocational, or recreational activities

Front 49

sat

Back 49

Saturation

a measure of the degree to which oxygen is bound to the hemoglobin in the blood; it is given as a percentage, and reflects pulmonary function

Front 50

sed rate

Back 50

Sedimentation rate

a laboratory value related to the action of red blood cells

Front 51

segs

Back 51

Segmented neutrophils

white blood cells that are part of the CBC differential

Front 52

t. bili

Back 52

Total bilirubin

a bile pigment that is measured in liver function studies

Front 53

tabs

Back 53

Tablets

a form of medication, pills

Front 54

AAA

Back 54

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

AAA, a cardiovascular anomaly

Front 55

V-tach

Back 55

Ventricular tachycardia

an increased ventricular heart rate

Front 56

voc rehab

Back 56

Vocational rehabilitation

rehabilitation for those who need to retrain in a former or new vocation due to illness or injury