List of Important Symbols and Abbreviations in Medicine

These are listed alphabetically to easily find the symbol or abbreviation you are looking for.

° - degrees
8 - approximately
+ve - positive
–ve - negative
± - plus or minus
i - increase(d)
d - decrease(d)
ABC - airway, breathing, circulation
ABG - arterial blood gas
AC - acromio-clavicular
ACE - angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone
ACS - acute coronary syndrome
AF - atrial fibrillation
AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AIO - Ambulance incident officer
AIS - abbreviated injury scale
ALS - advanced life support
ALT - alanine aminotransferase
ALTE - apparently life-threatening event
AP - antero-posterior
APLS - Advanced Pediatric Life Support
APTT - activated partial thromboplastin time
ARDS - adult respiratory distress syndrome
ARF - acute renal failure
AST - aspartate transaminase
ATLS - advanced trauma life support
AV - atrio-ventricular
bd - twice daily
BKPOP - below knee Plaster of Paris
BKWPOP - below knee walking Plaster of Paris
BLS - basic life support
BMG - bedside strip measurement of venous/capillary blood glucose
BNF - British National Formulary
BNFC - British National Formulary for Children
BP - blood pressure
BTS - British Thoracic Society
BZP - benzylpiperazine
CBRN - chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear
CCU - critical care unit
CK - creatine kinase
cm - centimeter(s)
CMV - cytomegalovirus
CN - chloroacetophenone
CNS - central nervous system
CO - carbon monoxide
CO 2 - carbon dioxide
COHb - carboxyhemoglobin
COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP - continuous positive airways pressure
CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRF - chronic renal failure
CRP - C-reactive protein
CSF - cerebrospinal fluid
CT - computed tomography
CTPA - computed tomography pulmonary angiography
CVP - central venous pressure
CVS - cardiovascular system
CXR - chest X-ray
DIC - disseminated intravascular coagulation
DIPJ - distal interphalangeal joint
DKA - diabetic ketoacidosis
dL - deciliter
DPL - diagnostic peritoneal lavage
DPT - diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus
DSH - deliberate self-harm
DVT - deep venous thrombosis
EBV - Epstein–Barr virus
ECG - electrocardiogram
ECT - electroconvulsive therapy
ED - emergency department
EEG - electroencephalogram
EMLA - eutectic mixture of local anesthetics
ENT - ear, nose and throat
EPAP - expiratory positive airway pressure
ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ET - endotracheal
ETCO2 - end-tidal carbon dioxide
FAST - focused assessment with sonography for trauma
FB - foreign body
FBC - full blood count
FFP - fresh frozen plasma
FG - French Gauge
FiO2 - inspired oxygen concentration
FOB - faecal occult blood
G6-PD - glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase
g - gram(s)
G - gauge
GA - general anesthetic
GCS - Glasgow Coma Score
GFR - glomerular filtration rate
GI - gastrointestinal
GHB - gamma-hydroxybutyrate
GMC - General Medical Council
GP - general practitioner
GTN - glyceryl trinitrate
GU - genitourinary
5HT - 5-hydroxytryptamine
HATI - human anti-tetanus immunoglobulin
Hb - hemoglobin
HCG - human chorionic gonadotrophin
HCM - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hct - hematocrit
HDU - high dependency unit
HHS - hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
HIV - human immunodeficiency virus
HONK - hyperosmolar non-kenotic hyperglycemia
hr - hour/s
HTLV - human T-cell lymphotropic virus
ICP - intracranial pressure
ICU - intensive care unit
IDDM - insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IHD - ischemic heart disease
IM - intramuscular
INR - international normalized ratio (of prothrombin time)
IO - intra-osseous
IPAP - inspiratory positive airway pressure
IPg - interphalangeal
IPPV - intermittent positive pressure ventilation
ISS - injury severity score
ITP - idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
IUCD - intrauterine contraceptive device
IV - intravenous
IVI - intravenous infusion
IVRA - intravenous regional anesthesia
IVU - intravenous urography
JVP - jugular venous pressure
KE - kinetic energy
kPa - kilopascal(s) pressure
KUB X-ray - covering the area of kidneys, ureters and bladder
L - liter(s)
LA - local anesthetic
LAD - left axis deviation
LBBB - left bundle branch block
LDH - lactate dehydrogenase
LET - lidocaine epinephrine tetracaine
LFTs - liver function tests
LMA - laryngeal mask airway
LMP - last menstrual period
LMWH - low molecular weight heparin
LP - lumbar puncture
LSD - lysergic acid diethylamide
LV - left ventricular
LVF - left ventricular failure
LVH - left ventricular hypertrophy
m - meter(s)
MAOI - monoamine oxidase inhibitor
MAST - military anti-shock trousers
max - maximum
MC - metacarpal
MCA - Mental Capacity Act
MCPJ - metacarpophalangeal joint
MDU - Medical Defense Union
MI - myocardial infarction
min - minute/s
MIO - medical incident officer
mL - milliliter(s)
mmHg - millimeters of mercury pressure
mmol - millimoles
MMR - mumps, measles, and rubella
MRI - magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA - methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MS - multiple sclerosis
MSU - mid-stream specimen of urine
MT - metatarsal
MTPJ - metatarsophalangeal joint
MUA - manipulation under anesthetic
NAC - N-acetyl cysteine
NAI - non-accidental injury
ND - notifiable disease
NG - nasogastric
NHS - National Health Service
NIV - non-invasive ventilation
NO - nitrous oxide
NSAID - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSTEMI - non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
NWBPOP - non-weight-bearing Plaster of Paris
O2 - oxygen
OA - osteoarthritis
OCP - oral contraceptive pill
od - once daily
OPG - orthopantomogram
ORIF - open reduction and internal fixation
ORT - oral replacement therapy
PA - postero-anterior
PACS - picture archiving and communication system
PAN - polyarteritis nodosa
PCI - percutaneous coronary intervention
pCO2 - arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide
PCR - polymerase chain reaction
PE - pulmonary embolus
PEA - pulseless electrical activity
PEEP - positive end-expiratory pressure
PEFR - peak expiratory flow rate
PGL - persistent generalized lymphadenopathy
PICU - pediatric intensive care unit
PID - pelvic inflammatory disease
PIPJ - proximal interphalangeal joint
PO - per os (orally/by mouth)
pO2 - arterial partial pressure of oxygen
POP - plaster of Paris
PPE - personal protective equipment
PPI - proton pump inhibitor
PR - per rectum
PRF - patient report form
PRN - pro re nata (as required)
PSP - primary spontaneous pneumothorax
PV - per vaginam
qds - four times a day
RA - rheumatoid arthritis
RAD - right axis deviation
RBBB - right bundle branch block
RBC - red blood cells
Rh - Rhesus
ROSC - restoration of spontaneous circulation
RR - respiratory rate
RSI - rapid sequence induction/intubation
RSV - respiratory syncytial virus
rtPA - recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
RTS - revised trauma score
RV - right ventricular
SA - sino-atrial
SARS - severe acute respiratory syndrome
SC - subcutaneous
SCIWORA - spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality
sec - second(s)
SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome
SIGN - Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
SIRS - systemic inflammatory response syndrome
SL - sublingual
SLE - systemic lupus erythematosus
SpO2 - arterial oxygen saturation
SSP - secondary spontaneous pneumothorax
SSRI - selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor
STD - sexually transmitted disease
STEMI ST - segment elevation myocardial infarction
SVT - supraventricular tachycardia
T ° - temperature
T3 - tri-iodothyronine
T4 - thyroxine
TAC - tetracaine, adrenaline and cocaine
TB - tuberculosis
tds - three times a day
TFTs - thyroid function tests
TIA - transient ischaemic attack
TIMI - thrombolysis in myocardial infarction
tPA - tissue plasminogen actvator
TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone
u/U - unit(s)
U&E - urea and electrolytes
URTI - upper respiratory tract infection
USS - ultrasound scan
UTI - urinary tract infection
V - volts
VA - visual acuity
VF - ventricular fibrillation
VHF - viral hemorrhagic fever
V/Q - ventilation/perfusion (scan)
VT - ventricular tachycardia
WB - weight-bear(ing)
WBC - white blood cells
WCC - white cell count
WHO - World Health Organization
WPW - Wolff Parkinson White (syndrome)