Medical Acronyms – abbreviations your doctor or medical team may use – demystifying the codes.

ABG     arterial blood gas

ACLS   advanced cardiac life support

AF    atrial fibrillation

AI    aortic insufficiency also known as aortic regurgitation

ALK1   activin receptor-like kinase type 1

APAH    associated pulmonary hypertension

ARDS    acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF    acute renal failure

AS    aortic stenosis

ASD    atrial septal defect

AV    atrioventricular

AXR     abdominal X-Ray

Bid    twice a day

BP    blood pressure

BMPR2   bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2   

BPM    beats per minute

Ca    calcium

CABG     coronary artery bypass graft

CAD     coronary artery disease

CCF or CHF     congestive heart failure

CCU     coronary Care Unit

CF     cystic fibrosis

CHD    congenital heart disease

CI     cardiac index

CO     cardiac output

COPD     chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also known as

COAD     chronic obstructive airways disease

CPAP     continuous positive airway pressure

CPR     cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRF     chronic renal failure

CT or CAT Scan     computerized tomography

CTEPH    chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

CVP     central venous pressure

CXR     chest X-ray

DVT     deep venous thrombosis

DX     diagnosis

ECG     electrocardiogram

ECHO     echocardiogram ( Ultrasound of heart)

ED     emergency department

EN     enrolled nurse

ESRD     end-stage renal disease

FEV     forced expiratory volume

FFP     fresh frozen plasma

FPAH   familial pulmonary arterial hypertension

FVC     forced vital capacity

GP     general practitioner ( local doctor)

Hb     hemoglobin

HIV      human immunodeficiency virus

HTN     hypertension

IPAH     idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

ICU     intensive care unit

IM     intramuscular

IV     intravenous

JVP      jugular venous pressure

K     potassium

LLL     left lower lobe

LUL     left upper lobe

LV     left ventricle

LVH     left ventricular hypertrophy

MAP     mean arterial pressure

MI     myocardial infarction also known as Heart Attack

MO     medical officer

MRI     magnetic resonance imaging

NSAID    non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs

OPD     outpatient department

OR      odds ratio

PAH     pulmonary arterial hypertension

PAP     pulmonary arterial pressure

PAT     paroxysymal atrial tachycardia

PCH     pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis

PCWP     pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PE     pulmonary embolus

PEEP     positive end expiratory pressure

PH     pulmonary hypertension

POPH     portopulmonary hypertension

PPH      primary pulmonary hypertension now called IPAH

PRN     as needed

PTE     Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PE)

PTE     Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

PVOD     pulmonary veno-occlusive disease

PVR     pulmonary vascular resistance

q4h, q6h....    every 4 hours, every 6 hours etc.

qid     four times a day

RHC      right heart catheter

RLL      right lower lobe

RML     right middle lobe

RMO      resident medical officer ( junior doctor)

RN      registered nurse

RUL     right upper lobe

RVH     right ventricular hyperthrophy

Rx     treatment

SC     subcutaneous

SCD     sickle cell disease

SPAH     secondary pulmonary hypertension now called APAH

Sl     sublingual

SLE     systemic lupus erythematous

SOB     shortness of breath

STAT     immediately

Tid or Tds     three times a day

TLC     total lung capacity

TRV     tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity

TV     tidal volume

Tx     transplant

US     ultrasound

VC     vital capacity

V/Q Scan      ventilation – perfusion scan

VSD       Ventricular Septal Defect

 

Pathology  Abbreviations

BSL     blood sugar level

COAGS     coagulation studies

Ca     calcium

FBC     full blood count

Hb     haemoglobin

INR     international normalized ratio (warfarin measurement)

LFT     liver function test

Mg    magnesium

Na     sodium

Path     pathology

Plt     Platelets

UEC     urea, electrolytes, creatinine ( blood chemistry)

UA     urinalysis