Acronym List
A
AAA—abdominal aortic aneurysm
ABG—arterial blood gases
ACD—active compression-decompression (CPR)
ACE—angiotensin converting enzyme
ACLS—Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACS—acute coronary syndromes
ACTH—adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADD—attention deficit disorder
ADP—adenosine diphosphate
AGE—acute gastroenteritis
AHA—American Heart Association
ALS—advanced life support
ALSO—Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
AMI—acute myocardial infarction
APTT—activated partial thromboplastin time
ARDS—adult respiratory distress syndrome
ARS—acute radiation syndrome
ASA—acetylsalicylic acid
ATLS—Advanced Trauma Life Support
ATP—adenosine triphosphate
AV/A-V—arteriovenous
AVNRT—AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia
B
BAL—Dimercaprol
BBB—bundle branch blocks
BID—twice per day
BiPAP—inspiratory/expiratory positive
airway pressure
BNP—brain natriuretic peptide
BP—blood pressure
bpm—beats per minute
BS—blood sugar
BSA—body surface area
BUN—blood urea nitrogen
BURP—backward, upward, rightward pressure
C
C—Celsius
c-spine—cervical spine
CABG—coronary artery bypass graft
CALS—Comprehensive Advanced Life Support
CAVH—continuous arterial venous
hemoperfusion
CAVR—continuous arterial rewarming
CBC—complete blood count
CCB—calcium channel blocker
CHF—congestive heart failure
CIE—current immunelectrophoresis
CMP—chronic mountain polycythemia
CMS—circulation, motor, sensation
CMV—cytomegalovirus
CNS—central nervous system
COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP—continuous positive airway pressure
CPK—creatine phosphokinase
CPP—cerebral perfusion pressure
CPR—cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CSF—cerebral spinal fluid
CT—computed tomography
CV—cardiovascular
CVA—cerebral vascular accident
CVP—central venous pressure
CXR—chest x-ray
D
D5W—5% dextrose in water
DBP—diastolic blood pressure
DC—direct current
DDAVP—desmopressin acetate
DEC—diethylcarbamazepine
DIC—disseminated intravascular coagulation
DKA—diabetic ketoacidosis
DMSO—dimethyl sulfoxide
DNAR—Do Not Attempt Resuscitation
DONT—Dextrose, Oxygen, Narcan, Thiamine
DTR—deep tendon reflexes
E
EAA—excitatory amino acids
ECG—electrocardiogram
ED—emergency department
EDTA—Edetate disodium
EEG—electroencephalogram
EF—ejection fraction
EID—esophageal intubation detector
EMD—electrical mechanical dissociation
EMP—emergency management plan
ET—endotracheal
ETI—endotracheal tube introducer
ETT—endotracheal tube
F
F—Fahrenheit
FAB—antigen-binding fragments
F.A.S.T.1. — First Access for Shock and
Trauma
FB—foreign body
FEV—forced expiratory volume
FFP—fresh frozen plasma
FHR—fetal heart rate
FHT—fetal heart tone
F/U—follow-up
FVC—forced vital capacity
G
GABA—y-aminobutyric
GC-MS—gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
GCS—Glasgow Coma Scale
GI—gastrointestinal
GTT—glucose tolerance test
GU—genitourinary
Gy—Gray
GYN—gynecology
H
HA—headache
HACE—high altitude cerebral edema
HAE—high altitude edema
HAPE—high altitude pulmonary edema
HARH—high altitude retinal hemorrhage
HAS—high altitude syncope
HBO—hyperbaric oxygen
HCG—human chorionic gonadotrophin
Hct—hematocrit
HE—high-order explosives
HEENT—head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
HELLP—hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes,
low platelet <100K
Hgb—hemoglobin
HLA—human leukocyte antigen
HOB—head of bed
HSP—hypersensitivity pneumonitis
HTN—hypertension
HVR—hypoxic ventilatory response
I
I & D—incision and
drainage
I & O—intake and output
ICD—implanted cardioverter-defibrillator
ICP—intracranial pressure
ICU—intensive care unit
IDM—infants of diabetic mothers
IgE—immunoglobulin
ILMA—intubating laryngeal mask airway
IM—intramuscular
IN—intranasal
INH—isoniazid
INR—international normalized ratio
IO—intraosseous
IOP—intraocular pressure
IUGR—intrauterine growth retardation
IV—intravenous
J
JVD—jugular venous distention
K
L
L & D—labor and delivery
LA—left arm
LAD—left anterior descending
LBBB—left bundle branch block
LD—loading dose
LDH—lactate dehydrogenase
LE—low-order explosives
LFT—liver function tests
LGA—large for gestational age (infant)
LGI—light-guided intubation
LL—left leg
LMA—laryngeal mask airway
LMP—last menstrual period
LOC—level of consciousness
LP—lumbar puncture
LV—left ventricular
M
MAFP—Minnesota Academy of Family
Physicians
MAP—mean arterial pressure
MAO—monoamine oxidase
MAST—military anti-shock trousers
MAT—multifocal artial tachycardia
MDI—metered dose inhaler
MFOS—mixed function oxidase system
MI—myocardial infarction
MRSA—methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus
MTBI—mild traumatic brain injury
MVC—motor vehicle crash
N
NAC—N-Acetylcysteine
NAPQI—n-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine
NG—nasogastric
NIH—National Institute of Health
NIV—noninvasive ventilatory support
NMDA—N-methyl-D-aspartate
NPO—nothing by mouth
NRP—Neonatal Resuscitation Program
NS—normal saline
NSR—normal sinus rhythm
Ntg—nitroglycerin
O
OA—occiput anterior
OB—obstetrics
OP—occiput posterior
OR—operating room
ORS—oral rehydration solutions
OTC—over-the-counter
P
2-PAM—pralidoxime
PA—posterior anterior
PALS—Pediatric Advanced Life Support
PAP—peak airway pressure
PAR—post anesthesia recovery
PASG—pneumatic anti-shock garment
PCP—phencyclidine
PE—phenytoin equivalents
PEA—pulseless electrical activity
PEEP—positive end-expiratory pressure
PEF—peak expiratory flow
PEFR—peak expiratory flow rate
PFT—pulmonary function test
PNU—2% N-3-pyridylmethyl-N
'-p-nitrophenylurea
PO—by mouth
ppd—pack per day
ppm—parts per millionPPCI—primary
percutaneous coronary intervention
PPV—positive pressure ventilation
PR—per rectum
PRBC—packed red blood cells
prn—pro re na’ta, as needed
PROM—premature rupture of membrane
PSTA—paroxysmal supraventricular
tachycardia
PT—protime
PTCA—percutaneous coronary angioplasty
PTH—parathyroid hormone
PTO—power-take-off
PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder
PTT—partial thromboplastin time
PVCs—premature ventricular contractions
Q
R
RA—right arm
RAD—radiation absorbed dose
RBBB—right bundle branch block
RBCs—red blood cells
RCA—right coronary artery
RDS—respiratory distress syndrome
REM—radiation equivalent man
RIC—rapid infusion catheter
RL—right leg
ROM—rupture of membrane
Rx’s—prescription
RSI—rapid sequence intubation
RSV—respiratory syncytial viruses
RUQ—right upper quadrant
S
SaO2—oxygen
saturation
SBD—systolic blood pressure
SCC—sickle cell crisis
SCIWORA—spinal cord injury without
radiographic abnormality
SCM—sternocleidomastoid
SGA—small for gestational age (infant)
SIADH—syndrome of inappropriate ADH
secretion
SL—sublingually
SNOT—sugar, Narcan, oxygen, thiamine
SOI—syrup of ipecac
SQ—subcutaneously
SSRI—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
STAT—sta’tim; immediately, at once
START—Simple Triage And Rapid Transport
Sv—Sievert
SVT—supraventricular tachycardia
T
TBW—total body water
T/C—type & cross
TCAs—tricyclic antidepressants
TCB—transient cortical blindness
TCP—transcutaneous pacing
TEE—transesphogeal echocardiogram
TIA—transient ischemic attack
TKO—to keep open—tumor necrosis factor
TODS—toxic organic dust syndrome
TPA—Alteplase
TPN—total parenteral nutrition
TPR—temperature, pulse, respiration
TSH—thyroid-stimulating hormone
TTNV—transtracheal needle ventilation
TV—tidal volume
TVP—transvenous pacing
U
UAO—upper airway obstruction
USP—United States Pharmacopeia
URI—upper respiratory infection
UTI—urinary tract infection
V
VF—ventricular fibrillation
VRE—vancomycin resistant enterococcus
VT—ventricular tachycardia
W
WBC—white blood cell
WBI—whole bowel irrigation
WMD—weapons of mass destruction
WPW—Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
WOB—work of breathing