Abbreviations and symbols
°
degrees
≈
approximately
+ve
positive
–ve
negative
±
plus or minus
↑
increase(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 Paediatric 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
centimetre(s)
CMV
cytomegalovirus
CN
chloroacetophenone
CNS
central nervous system
CO
carbon monoxide
CO2
carbon dioxide
COHb
carboxyhaemoglobin
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
decilitre
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 anaesthetics
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 anaesthetic
GCS
Glasgow Coma Score
GFR
glomerular filtration rate
GI
gastrointestinal
GHB
gammahydroxybutyrate
GMC
General Medical Council
GP
general practitioner
GTN
glyceryl trinitrate
GU
genitourinary
5HT
5-hydroxytryptamine
HATI
human anti-tetanus immunoglobulin
Hb
haemoglobin
HCG
human chorionic gonadotrophin
HCM
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hct
haematocrit
HDU
high dependency unit
HHS
hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state
HIV
human immunodeficiency virus
HONK
hyperosmolar non-ketotic hyperglycaemia
hr
hour/s
HTLV
human T-cell lymphotropic virus
ICP
intracranial pressure
ICU
intensive care unit
IDDM
insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IHD
ischaemic 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 anaesthesia
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
litre(s)
LA
local anaesthetic
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 venticular hypertrophy
m
metre(s)
MAOI
monoamine oxidase inhibitor
MAST
military anti-shock trousers
max
maximum
MC
metacarpal
MCA
Mental Capacity Act
MCPJ
metacarpophalangeal joint
MDU
Medical Defence Union
MI
myocardial infarction
min
minute/s
MIO
medical incident officer
mL
millilitre(s)
mmHg
millimetres of mercury pressure
mmol
millimoles
MMR
mumps, measles, and rubella
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA
meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MS
multiple sclerosis
MSU
mid-stream specimen of urine
MT
metatarsal
MTPJ
metatarsophalangeal joint
MUA
manipulation under anaesthetic
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
paediatric 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)