P
P:
Parturition (total number of live births)
P:
Phosphrous
P:
Pulse
P:
(p with a bar over it ) after , from Latin , post
p.c.:
After food , from Latin , post cibum
p.o.:
By mouth (orally) , from Latin , per os
p.r.:
Per rectum (as noun: rectal examination)
p.v.:
Per vagina (as noun : vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection)
PA:
Posterior-anterior
PA:
Pulmonary artery
PAF:
Platelet activating factor
PAF:
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF)
PAH:
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
PAI-1:
Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
PAO:
Peak acid output
Pap:
Papanicolaou test (pap smear)
PAP:
Papanicolaou stain
PAT:
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
PCL:
Posterior cruciate ligament
PCOS:
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
PCP:
Pneumocystis pneumonia (formerly pneumocystis carinii pneumonia)
PCP:
Primary care physician/primary care provider
PCR:
Polymerase chain reaction
PDA:
Patent ductus arteriosus
PDE:
Phosphodiesterase
PDT:
Photadynamic therapy
PE:
Pulmonary embolism
PE:
Pre-eclampsia
PEEP:
Positive end expiratory pressure
PEF:
Peak expiratory flow
PEER:
Peak expiratory flow rate
PERLA:
Pupils equal and reactive to light and accommodation
PERRLA:
Pupils equal , round , reactive to light and accommodation
PET:
Positron-emission tomography
PFO:
Patent foramen ovale
PID:
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PIH:
Pregnancy induced hypertension
PIP:
Proximal interphalangeal joint
PKA:
Protein kinase A
PKD:
Polycystic kidney disease
PKU:
Phenylketonuria
PLT:
Platelets
PMB:
Post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause)
PMH:
(Past medical history) or perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage
PMN:
Polymorphonuclear cells , i.e. neutrophils
PMR:
Percutaneous myocardial revascularisation
PMR:
Polymyalgia rheumatica
poly:
Polymorphonuclear cells , ie neutrophils
POX:
Peroxidase
PPH:
Primary pulmonary hypertension
PPH:
Post partum haemorrhage
PPROM:
Preterm premature rupture of membranes
PPTL:
Post-partum tubal ligation
PRA:
Plasma renin activity
PRIND:
Prolonged reversible ischemic neurologic deficit
prn:
As necessary , from Latin , pro re nata (if used in chronic pain control disparagingly termed “pain relief nil”)
PROM:
Premature ruptue of membranes
PRP:
Panretinal photocoagulation
PSA:
Prostatic specific antigen
PSP:
Phenylsulphtalein
PT:
Prothrombin time
Pt.:
Patient from Latin patiens, meaning “one who endures” or “one who suffers”
PTA:
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
PTCA:
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PTH:
Parathyroid hormone
PTM:
Pulmonary tuberculosis
PTT:
Partial thromboplastin time
PTx:
Pneumothorax
PUD:
Peptic ulcer disease
PUVA:
Psoralen UV A
PVD:
Peripheral vascular disease
PVR:
Pulmonary vascular resistance
PWP:
Pulmonary wedge pressure
Px:
Prognosis
Px , px:
Physical examination
Q
q:
Each , every (from Latin , quaque)
q.AM:
Every AM , (from Latin , quaque ante meridiem)
q.d.:
Each day (from Latin , quaque die)
q.d.s:
Four times each day ,(from Latin , quarter die sumendus)
q.h.:
Each hour , (from Latin , quaque hora)
q.h.s.:
Every bedtime (from Latin , quaque hora somni)
q.i.d.:
Four times each day ,( from Latin , quater in die)
q.o.d.:
Every other day ,(from Latin , quaque altera die)
QALY:
Quality-adjusted life years
R
RA:
Rheumatoid arthritis
RA:
Refactory anaemia
RAI:
Radioactive iodine
RAPD:
Relative afferent pupillary defect
RBB:
Right bundle branch block
RBC:
Red blood cells
RCA:
Right coronary artery
RCT:
Randomized controlled trial
REM:
Rapid eye movement
RF:
Rheumatoid factor
RFLP:
Restriction fragment length polymorphism
RFT:
Renal function test
Rh:
Rhesus factor
RhF:
Rheumatoid factor
RIA:
Radioimmune assay
RIBA:
Radioimmunoblotting assay
RIMA:
Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A
RIND:
Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit
RLQ:
Right lower quadrant
RNA:
Ribonucleic acid
RNV:
Radionuclear ventriculography
ROM:
Range of motion
ROS:
Review of systems
RPR:
Rapid plasma reagin test
RR:
Respiratory rate
RSV:
Respiratory syncytial virus
RUQ:
Right upper quadrant
RV:
Residual volume
RV:
Right ventricle
RVF:
Right ventricular failure
RVSP:
Right ventricular systolic pressure
Rx:
Medical prescription or prescription drug