Medical Abbreviations Flashcards

Medical Abbreviations

• ABX: Refers to antibiotics, commonly used in treating infections.
• AC: Indicates administration of medication or food before meals.
• ADL: Denotes activities of daily living, essential for self-care and independence.
• AF: Stands for atrial fibrillation, a common type of arrhythmia affecting heart rhythm.
• AICD: Abbreviation for automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device that monitors and corrects heart rhythms.
• AKA: Refers to above knee amputation, a surgical procedure to remove the leg above the knee joint.
• AKI: Stands for acute kidney injury, a rapid decrease in kidney function.
• ARF: Denotes acute respiratory failure, characterized by fluid accumulation in the lungs.
• AVS: Refers to after visit summary, a document provided to patients summarizing their visit.
• BC: Represents blood culture, a test to detect infections in the bloodstream.
• BIBEMS: Abbreviation for Brought by EMS, indicating a patient was brought in by Emergency Medical Services.
• BKA: Stands for below knee amputation, a surgical procedure to remove the leg below the knee joint.
• BM: Indicates bowel movement, a key indicator of digestive health.
• BMP: Refers to basic metabolic profile, a blood test measuring glucose levels, electrolytes, and kidney function.
• BNP: Stands for brain natriuretic peptide; elevated levels are associated with congestive heart failure.
• BUN: Abbreviation for Blood urea nitrogen; normal range is 10-20 mg/dL, used to assess kidney health.
• BX: Indicates biopsy, a procedure to remove tissue for examination.
• C&S: Refers to culture and sensitivity, tests to identify specific pathogens and their antibiotic resistance.
• CAD: Stands for coronary artery disease, a condition caused by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries.
• CBC: Represents Complete Blood Count, a blood test used to check for infection or anemia.
• CBI: Abbreviation for continuous bladder irrigation, a procedure to flush the bladder.
• CDT: Stands for Clostridium difficile toxin, a harmful bacterium causing gut inflammation.
• CHF: Refers to congestive heart failure, a condition where the heart cannot supply sufficient blood to meet the body's needs.
• CPM: Stands for continuous passive motion, a therapy used to improve joint mobility.
• CT or CAT: Refers to Computerized Assisted Tomography, a diagnostic imaging tool for detailed internal body views.