Abbreviations

We include a long list of abbreviations to aid reading medical notes and for reference throughout this book.

µg micrograms A&E accident and emergency ABC airway, breathing, circulation ABG arterial blood gases ac ante cibum (before food) ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme ACTH adrenocorticotrophic hormone AED automated external defibrillator AF atrial fibrillation AFB acid-fast bacillus AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ALS Advanced Life Support ANA antinuclear antigen APTT activated partial thromboplastin time ARCP Annual Review of Competence Progression AS aortic stenosis AV atrioventricular AVCs additional voluntary contributions AXR abdominal X-ray (plain) BBB bundle branch block bd bis die (twice per day) bHCG beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin BMA British Medical Association BMJ British Medical Journal BNF British National Formulary BP blood pressure bpm beats/minute Ca carcinoma Ca calcium CCF congestive cardiac failure CK creatinine kinase CNS central nervous system COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation CRP C-reactive protein CSF cerebrospinal fluid CT computed tomography CV curriculum vitae CVA cerebrovascular accident CVP central venous pressure CVS cardiovascular system CXR chest X-ray DC direct current DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation DKA diabetic ketoacidosis dl decilitre(s) DM diabetes mellitus DOB date of birth DVT deep venous thrombosis ECG electrocardiogram ECHO echocardiography EM electron microscope ENT ear, nose and throat EPC early pregnancy clinic ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate FBC full blood count FDP fibrin degradation product FEVl forced expiratory volume in first second FFP fresh frozen plasma FOB faecal occult blood FVC forced vital capacity FY1 Foundation Year 1 FY2 Foundation Year 2 g gram(s) G&S group and save G6PD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase GCS Glasgow Coma Scale GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase GI (GIT) gastrointestinal GMC General Medical Council GP general practitioner GTN glyceryl trinitrate GUM Genitourinary Medicine HB heart block Hb haemoglobin Hep hepatitis HepSal heparinized saline HHS hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state HIV human immunodeficiency virus HOCM hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy IBD inflammatory bowel disease IBS irritable bowel syndrome ICP intracranial pressure ID identification Ig immunoglobulin IHD ischaemic heart disease IM intramuscular INR international normalized ratio (prothrombin ratio) ITU intensive therapy unit iu (IU) international unit IV intravenous IVU intravenous urography JVP jugular venous pressure K+ potassium KCl potassium chloride kg kilograms kPa kilopascals L left l litres LBBB left bundle branch block LDH lactate dehydrogenase LFT liver function test LMP last menstrual period LMWH low molecular weight heparin LP lumbar puncture LV left ventricle LVF left ventricular failure LVH left ventricular hypertrophy mane in the morning MC&S microscopy, culture and sensitivity MCV mean cell volume MDU Medical Defence Union Mg magnesium mg milligrams MI myocardial infarction ml millilitres mmHg millimetres of mercury MPS Medical Protection Society MRI magnetic resonance imaging MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MS multiple sclerosis MST morphine sulphate tablets MSU midstream urine N&V nausea and vomiting Na sodium NB nota bene (note well) NBM nil by mouth NEJM New England Journal of Medicine NGT nasogastric tube nocte in the evening NR normal range NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs obs observations OCP oral contraceptive pill OD overdose od once a day PaCO2 partial pressure of CO2 in arterial blood Pap Papanicolaou PaO2 partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood PAYE pay as you earn PCR polymerase chain reaction PE pulmonary embolism PEFR peak expiratory flow rate PID pelvic inflammatory disease PM post mortem PMH past medical...