Medical Abbreviation (A-C)

@

at

A&P

anatomy and physiology

ab

abortion

abd

abdominal

ABG

arterial blood gas

a.c.

before meal

ac&cl

acetest and clinitest

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

AD

right ear

ADL

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

adm

admission

afeb

afebrile, no fever

AFB

acid-fast bacillus

AKA

above the knee

alb

albumin

alt dieb

alternate days (every other day)

am

morning

AMA

against medical advice

amal

amalgam

amb

ambulate, walk

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

amt

amount

ANS

automatic nervous system

ant

anterior

AOx3

alert and oriented person, time, and place

Ap

apical

AP

apical pulse

approx

approximately

aq

aqueous

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

AS

left ear

ASA

aspirin

asap

as soon as possible

as tol

as tolerated

ATD

admission, transfer, discharge

AU

both ear

Ax

axillary

BE

barium enema

bid

twice a day

bil, bilateral

both side

BK

below the knee

BKA

below the knee amputation

bl

blood

bl wk

blood work

BLS

basic life support

BM

bowel movement

BOW

bag of waters

B/P

blood pressure

bpm

beats per minute

BR

bed rest

BRP

bathroom privileges

BS

breath sounds

BSI

body substance isolation

BSO

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

BUN

blood, urea, nitrogen levels

BVM

bag-valve-mask

bx

biopsy

c

with

C&S

culture and sensitivity

c-spine

cervical spine

CA

cancer

CAD

coronary artery disease

cal

calorie

CAT

computerized axial tomography

cath

catheter

CBC

complete blood count

cc

cubic centimeters

CC

chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit, critical care unit

CHD

coronary heart disease

CHF

congestive heart failure

CHO

carbohydrate

chol

cholesterol

circ

circumcision

cl liq

clear liquid

CNS

central nervous system

c/o

complains of

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPK

creatine phosphokinase

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPT

chest physical therapy

CS

central supply

CSP

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computer tomography

CVA

cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

CVU

cardiovascular unit

cx

cervix

CXR

chest X ray

cysto

cystography