Commonly used Medical Abbreviations and their Meaning

Abbreviations have a long tradition in medicine and used correctly can assist in the rapid communication of information about a patient. However, since some abbreviations can have multiple meanings, or are only used regularly within one speciality, using them can represent a hazard to the patient if the abbreviation is misinterpreted.

Whilst writing information in full will always be preferred as the best way to avoid ambiguity, it is accepted that they are commonly used in medical communications.

As a means of promoting the accurate transfer of information between professionals and striking a practical balance, this document acts as a list of approved abbreviations which can be used in interagency communications. It will also provide patients with a dictionary of medical abbreviations helping them to understand medical records and correspondence.

The most obvious use of such a directory will be the transfer of information between primary and secondary care. However, it is also useful for writing patient notes to assist trainees, locums and other specialities, or when primary care notes are transferred between practices as patients move.

Abbreviations not included in this document should be written in full in correspondence between agencies.

NON-PREFERRED ABBREVIATION LIST

Fracture – May be written on hand written discharge letters. However, should not be used within EMIS. (Depending on EMIS settings may display either as # or as £)

AR Ambiguous – could refer to Aortic Regurgitation or Aortic valve replacement. Write in full

AS Ambiguous – could refer to Abdominal System or Aortic Stenosis. Write in full

BS Ambiguous – could refer to Bowel sounds or breathe sounds. Write in full.
Ca Ambiguous – could refer to Carcinoma or calcium. Write in full CCF / CHF / HF Congestive cardiac (heart) failure. Use of more precise LVSD / LVDD is preferred. If diagnosis uncertain, CCF may be used.

ED Ambiguous – could refer to Erectile Dysfunction or Emergency Department. Write in full

GU Ambiguous – could refer to Genito-urinary or Gastric ulcer. Write in full
MI

Ambiguous – could refer to Mitral incompetence or Myocardial infarction.
However, MI in regular use by all specialities, so may be used for
Myocardial Infarction. Ideally write in full or use STEMI or NSTEMI, and write Mitral Incompetence

MS Ambiguous – could refer to Multiple Sclerosis or Mitral Stenosis. However,
MS is widely used by public for Multiple Sclerosis. Therefore, accepted for
use as multiple sclerosis. Mitral stenosis should be written in full. PID Ambiguous. Could refer to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease OR Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc. Write in full

RFT Ambiguous – could refer to Renal (Kidney) Function tests OR Respiratory Function tests. Write in full R / L Right and left should be written in full

STI Ambiguous – could refer to soft tissue injury OR sexually transmitted illness. Use NBI for non-bony injury and STD for sexually transmitted disease.

VE Ambiguous – could refer to vaginal examination or ventricular ectopic. Should be written in full.

UNITS OF MEASURE

km / m / cm / mm kilometre / metre / centimetre / millimetre
kg / g / mg / microg /pg Kilogramme / gramme / milligramme / microgramme / Picogramme.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh