A-44
ABC- airway, breathing, circulation; atomic,
biological, chemical
ABE - acute bacterial endocarditis
ABG - arterial blood gas
A/B ratio - acid/base ratio
ac - before meals
ACD - allergic contact dermatitis
ACL - anterior cruciate ligament
ACLS - advanced cardiac life support
ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone
ACVD - acute cardiovascular disease
ADH - antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)
ADL - activities of daily living
ad lib - as desired
AE - above elbow
A/E - air evacuation
AED - automatic external defibrillator
AFB - acid-fast bacilli
AFib/AFlut - atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter
AFIP - Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
AFMIC - Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center
AGA - appropriate for gestational age
AGE - arterial gas embolism
AGL - above ground level
A/G ratio - albumin/globin ratio
AHD - atherosclerotic heart disease
AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AJ - ankle jerk
AK - above knee
AKA - above-the-knee amputation; also known as
ALL - acute lymphoblastic or lymphocytic leukemia
ALS - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AMI - acute myocardial infarction
AML - acute myelocytic/myeloblastic leukemia
AMPLE - allergies, medications, previous injury,
last meal, and events preceding injury
AMS - altered mental status; acute mountain
sickness
AN - Army Nurse
ANUG - acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
ant - anterior
ante - before
AP - anterior-posterior
AP & Lat - anteroposterior and lateral
ARDS - acute respiratory distress syndrome
AROM - active range of motion
SOF Medical Handbook Abbreviations
ASA - acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
ASAP - as soon as possible
ASD - atrial septal defect
ASHD - arteriosclerotic heart disease
ATA - atmosphere absolute
ATLS - advanced trauma life support
AUB - abnormal uterine bleeding
AV, A-V - arteriovenous; atrioventricular
AVPU - alert, verbal stimulus response, painful
stimulus response, unresponsive
BAC - blood alcohol concentration
BAT - blood alcohol test
BBB - bundle branch block
BCG - Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (vaccine)
BCP - birth control pills
BE - barium enema
bicarb - bicarbonate
bid - twice a day
bil or bilat - bilateral
bili - bilirubin
BK - below knee
BKA - below-knee amputation
BLS - basic life support
BM - bowel movement
BMR - basal metabolic rate
BNTI - blind naso-tracheal intubation
BP - blood pressure
BPH - benign prostatic hypertrophy
BPM - beats per minute
BPV - benign positional vertigo
BR - bed rest
BSR - blood sedimentation rate
BSI - blood stream infection; body substance
isolation
BUN - blood urea nitrogen
BVM - bag, valve, mask
BW - biological warfare
Bx - biopsy
C - Celsius or centigrade
C1 to C7 - cervical nerves or vertebrae 1 to 7
c - with
Ca - calcium; cancer; carcinoma
CABG - coronary artery bypass graft
CAD - coronary artery disease
CAM - chemical agent monitor
CANA - convulsant antidote for nerve agents