The ABCs of common medical abbreviations

Time is of the essence in emergency medicine, and anywhere you can grab a few extra seconds is welcome. We’ve compiled a list of the most common (and some not-so-common!) medical abbreviations, according to Hawaii Pacific University, Madison Memorial Hospital in Idaho and Illinois State University. 

Were you aware of these shorthand diagnoses? Continue your training by downloading a copy of our PDF flashcards below.

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A

• AF: Atrial fibrillation
• AFR: Acute renal failure
• AKI: Acute kidney injury
• ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• AUS: Abdominal ultrasound

[Learn more: Acute kidney injury assessment and treatment]

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B

• BKA: Below-the-knee amputation
• BPD: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• BRA: Bilateral renal agenesis

[Learn more: Is your rescue team prepared for a field amputation?]

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C

• CAD: Coronary artery disease
• CHD: Congenital heart disease or defect
• CHF: Congestive heart failure
• CMV: Cytomegalovirus
• COA: Coarctation of the aorta
• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

[Learn more: Back to the basics – CHF vs. chronic bronchitis]

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D

• DJD: Degenerative joint disease
• DM2: Diabetes mellitus type 2
• DVT: Deep vein thrombosis

[Learn more: Drunk versus diabetes; how can you tell?]

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E

• ESRD: End stage renal disease

[Learn more: Caring for the dialysis patient]

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F

• FAS: Fetal alcohol syndrome
• Fx: Fracture

[Learn more: What are the benefits, risks of binding a pelvic fracture?]

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G

• GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux

[Learn more: 5 other considerations when treating a chest pain patient]

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H

• HTN: Hypertension

[Learn more: 5 errors that are giving you incorrect blood pressure readings]

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I

• IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome
• IIH: Indirect inguinal hernia
• IPF: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

[Learn more: 5 GI emergencies EMTs, paramedics should know]

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J

• JVD: Jugular vein distension

[Learn more: Veinity Fair – Evaluating jugular venous distension]

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K

• KA: Ketoacidosis

[Learn more: Understanding the presentation of diabetic ketoacidosis]

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L

• LOC: Loss of consciousness
• LGA: Large for gestational age
• LTB: Laryngotracheo bronchitis
• LBW: Low birth weight
• LE: Lupus erythemoatosus

[Learn more: Use AVPU scale to determine a patient's level of consciousness]

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M

• MI: Myocardial infarction
• MMR: Measles, mumps, rubella
• MRSA: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus
• MSUD: Maple syrup urine disease

[Learn more: How to control the spread of MRSA]

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N

• N/V: Nausea or vomiting
• NEC: Necrotizing enterocolitis
• NTD: Neural tube defect
• NRT: Nicotine replacement therapy

[Learn more: Listen – Thinking about abdominal pain]

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O

• OA: Osteoarthritis
• OAB: Overactive bladder
• OD: Overdose
• OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea

[Learn more: Opioid overdose – Fact vs. fiction]

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P

• PAC: Premature atrial contraction
• PAF: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
• PE: Pulmonary embolism
• PIE: Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
• PIH: Pregnancy-induced hypertension
• PIP: Peak inspiratory pressure
• PPHN: Persistent pulmonary hypertension
• PPS: Peripheral pulmonic stenosis
• PVC: Premature ventricular contraction
• PVD: Peripheral vascular disease

[Learn more: 4 things EMS providers need to know about pulmonary embolism]

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Q

• QRNG: Quinolone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

[Learn more: Role of EMS in preventing infectious disease transmission]

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R

• RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
• RD: Retinal detachment
• RDS: Respiratory distress syndrome
• RF: Renal failure
• RLS: Restless leg syndrome

[Learn more: 5 things to know about capnography and respiratory distress]

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S

• SCI: Spinal cord injury
• SSS: Sick sinus syndrome
• ST: Sinus tachycardia
• SVT: Supraventricular tachycardia

[Learn more: How to assess and manage spinal cord injury]

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T

• TAPVR: Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
• TB: Tuberculosis
• TBI: Traumatic brain injury
• TIA: Transient ischemic attack

[Learn more: Traumatic brain injury – 10 things you need to know to save lives]

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U

• URI: Upper respiratory infection
• UTI: Urinary tract infection

[Learn more: 8 questions for critical respiratory compromise patients]

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V

• VSD: Ventricular septal defect
• VT: Ventricular tachycardia

[Learn more: A prehospital approach to refractory ventricular fibrillation]

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W

• WNL: Within normal limits
• WBC: White blood count

[Learn more: White Knights – Why white blood cells reign]

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X

• XRT: Radiotherapy

[Learn more: When EMS meets hospice]

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Y

• YST: Yolk sac tumor

[Learn more: What medics should know about ectopic pregnancies]

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Z

• ZD: Zinc deficiency
• ZES: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

[Learn more: Understanding pain in the abdominal quadrants]

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Want some extra practice? Fill out the form below to download a set of flashcard PDFs you can use to test your knowledge. 

This article, originally published in November 2022, has been updated.