Abbreviations

<

less than

>

more than

↓

decreased

↑

increased

→

remains the same

ABG

arterial blood gas

ACEi

angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor

ACS

acute coronary syndrome

AF

atrial fibrillation

AKI

acute kidney injury

ALP

alkaline phosphatase

ALT

alanine aminotransferase

AP

anteroposterior

APTT

activated partial thromboplastin time

AVPU

alert, voice, pain, unresponsive

BNF

British National Formulary

BP

blood pressure

CNS

central nervous system

CO

cardiac output

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRP

C reactive protein

CRT

capillary refill time

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computed tomography

CTPA

CT pulmonary angiogram

CXR

chest X-ray

DC

direct current

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

ECG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

FBC

full blood count

FiO2

fraction of inspired oxygen

g

grams

GCS

Glasgow Coma Score

GI

gastrointestinal

GP

general practitioner

GTN

glyceryl trinitrate

HDU

high dependency unit

HR

heart rate

ICU

intensive care unit

IgE

immunoglobulin E

IM

intramuscular

INR

international normalized ratio

IV

intravenous

JVP

jugular venous pressure

kg

kilogram

kPa

kilopascal

LFT

liver function tests

LMA

laryngeal mask airway

LMWH

low molecular weight heparin

MAP

mean arterial pressure

mg

milligrams

mls

millilitres

mmHg

millimetres of mercury

mmol/L

mmols per litre

NEWS

National early warning score

NIV

non invasive ventilation

NSTEMI

non ST elevation myocardial infarction

PA

posteroanterior

PaCO2

partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood

PaO2

partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood

PCI

primary coronary intervention

PE

pulmonary embolism

PEARL

pupils equal and reactive to light

PEFR

peak expiratory flow rate

PMH

past medical history

PT

prothrombin time

PVR

peripheral vascular resistance

QRS

QRS complex on an ECG

RR

respiratory rate

s

seconds

SA

sino-atrial

SAH

subarachnoid haemorrhage

SIRS

systemic inflammatory response syndrome

SpO2

oxygen saturation

STEMI

ST elevation myocardial infarction

SV

stroke volume

SVR

systemic vascular resistance

U&E

urea and electrolytes

UO

urine output

V/Q

ventilation/perfusion

VF

ventricular fibrillation

VT

ventricular tachycardia