+ Sortable table Abbreviation Meaning p̄ after (from Latin post) [letter p with a bar over it]pHPotential of Hydrogen - Acidity of a fluid P parturition (total number of live births) phosphorus pulse post POSM plasma osmolality PA posterior–anterior, posteroanterior pulmonary artery physician assistant or physician associate psoriatic arthritis primary aldosteronism P&A percussion and auscultation phenol and alcohol matrixectomy PAC premature atrial contraction pulmonary artery catheter, pulmonary artery catheterisation PACU Post-anesthesia care unit PAD peripheral artery disease (aka peripheral artery occlusive disease) postadmission day (e.g. PAD 6 equals the sixth day of being in hospital) peripheral airspace disease Passively Acquired anti-D PAE prostatic artery embolization PAF platelet-activating factor paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF) PAH pulmonary arterial hypertension phenylalanine hydroxylase PAI-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 PAL posterior axillary line PALS Pediatric advanced life support (training program) PAN polyarteritis nodosa PAO peak acid output PAOD peripheral artery occlusive disease PAP Papanicolaou stain positive airway pressure pulmonary artery pressure (see pulmonary hypertension) pulmonary alveolar proteinosis Pap Papanicolaou test (pap smear) PAPP-A pregnancy-associated plasma protein A PAPVR partial anomalous pulmonary venous return PARA I indicating a woman with one child (partus = birth) PARA II indicating a woman with two children (partus = birth) PASP Pulmonary artery systolic pressure PASH Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia PAT paroxysmal atrial tachycardia PBC primary biliary cirrhosis, paired blood culture PBX probiotics PBF peripheral blood film p.c. after food (from Latin post cibum) after meals PCA patient-controlled analgesia PCa prostate cancer PCD postconcussional disorder primary ciliary dyskinesia Pcele Pseudomeningocele PCI percutaneous coronary intervention PCIOL posterior chamber intraocular lensPCKDPolycystic Kidney Disease PCL posterior cruciate ligament PCN penicillin PCNL Percutaneous nephrolithotomy PCNSL primary CNS (central nervous system) lymphoma PCO polycystic ovary (see polycystic ovary syndrome) PCOS polycystic ovarian syndrome PCP Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (now called Pneumocystis pneumonia) primary care physician (also called primary care provider) PCR patient care report polymerase chain reaction PCS post-concussion syndrome PCT progesterone challenge testPatient care technician PCV packed cell volume (see hematocrit) polycythemia vera PCWP pulmonary capillary wedge pressure PD Parkinson's disease paroxysmal dyskinesia peritoneal dialysis physical diagnosis personality disorder program director PDA patent ductus arteriosus posterior descending artery PDD premenstrual dysphoric disorder PDE phosphodiesterase PDGF platelet-derived growth factor PDR Physicians' Desk Reference Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy PDT photodynamic therapy PDVT postoperative deep-vein thrombosis PE pulmonary embolism pre-eclampsia pleural effusion physical examination PEA pulseless electrical activity PEB cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (chemotherapy regimen) PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure PEF peak expiratory flow PEFR peak expiratory flow rate PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy PEM protein/energy malnutrition (aka Kwashiorkor) pen penicillin (Best practice is to avoid drug name abbreviations) PEP Post-exposure prophylaxis PERM Progressive Encephalomyelitis with Rigidity and Myoclonus PERRL pupils equal, round, reactive to light PERLA pupils equal and reactive to light and accommodation PERRLA pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation Per Vag per vagina PET positron emission tomography (cerebral metabolic scan) PFO patent foramen ovale PFT pulmonary function test (see spirometry) PGCS Paediatric Glasgow Coma ScalepHpH (measurement of acidity) PH Pulmonary hypertension Past history (see also medical history) PHx past history (see also medical history) PHG Portal hypertensive gastropathy PHI protected health information PHN postherpetic neuralgia PHP Partial Hospitalization Program PHQ Patient Health Questionnaire PHTLS prehospital trauma life support PI present illness PII personally identifiable information PICC peripherally inserted central catheter PID pelvic inflammatory disease prolapsed intervertebral disc PIG-A phosphatidyl inositol glycan A PIH pregnancy induced hypertension PIP proximal interphalangeal joint PJP Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia PJS Peutz-Jeghers syndrome PK protein kinase PKA protein kinase A PKD polycystic kidney disease PKP penetrating keratoplasty PKU phenylketonuria (PKU card—see Guthrie test) PLAT tissue plasminogen activator PLIF posterior lumbar interbody fusion (a type of spinal fusion) PLT platelets PM post meridiem (in the afternoon) PMB post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause) PMD primary medical doctor PMDD premenstrual dysphoric disorder PMH past medical history (see also medical history) perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage progressive macular hypomelanosis PMI point of maximal impulse or apical beat point of maximal intensity PML polyoma virus progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy PMP Pseudomyxoma peritonei PMN polymorphonuclear leukocytes, that is, neutrophils PMR percutaneous myocardial revascularization polymyalgia rheumatica proportionate mortality rate PM&R physical medicine and rehabilitation PMS premenstrual syndrome PNA pneumonia PNA postnatal age PND paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea postnasal drip PNET primitive neuroectodermal tumor PNH paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria PNM perinatal mortalityPNSPeripheral Nervous System PNV Prenatal vitamin PO by mouth, that is, orally (from Latin per os) POA (Health Care) Power of Attorney POC postoperative care products of conception Plan of CarePOCTPoint-Of-Care testing POD postoperative days POEMS POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, myeloma protein and skin changes) POLST Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment poly polymorphonuclear cells, that is, neutrophils PONV postoperative nausea and vomiting POP pain on palpationpelvic organ prolapseplaster of Parisprogestin only pills Post posterior (see anatomical terms of location) POT plan of treatment POTS postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome POX peroxidase PP pulse pressure postpartum, that is, postnatal postprandial PPCS prolonged post-concussion syndrome PPD packs per day (cigarettes) postpartum depression, that is, postnatal depression purified protein derivative or Mantoux test, for tuberculosis testing PPE personal protective equipment PPF posterior pharyngeal flap PPGL pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma PPH postpartum haemorrhage primary pulmonary hypertension procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids PPHN persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn PPI proton pump inhibitorPPMSPrimary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis PPROM preterm prelabor rupture of membranes PPS post-polio syndrome Ppt precipitate precipitating PPTCT prevention of parent-to-child transmission (of HIV) (government of India initiative) PPTL postpartum tubal ligation PPTP Pediatric preclinical testing program PPV positive predictive value positive pressure ventilation PPx prophylaxis PR prothrombin ratio p.r. per rectum (as noun: rectal examination) PRA plasma renin activity PRBC PRBCs packed red blood cells PREA Pediatric Research Equity Act Preme premature infant (see premature birth) Prep PrEP preparation pre-exposure prophylaxis PRES Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome PRIND prolonged reversible ischemic neurologic deficit PRL prolactin prn PRN as necessary (from Latin pro re nata) (if used in chronic pain control, sometimes disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") as needed Prog prognosis PROM prelabor rupture of membranes partial range of motion PRP panretinal photocoagulation platelet-rich plasma progressive rubella panencephalitis PRRE purine-rich response element PRV polycythemia rubra vera (see polycythemia vera) PSA prostate-specific antigen PBSO partial small bowel obstruction PSC primary sclerosing cholangitis PSCH preoperative systemic chemotherapy PSGN poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis PSH Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity Past surgical history psychosocial history Past medical history (see also medical history) PSI Pneumonia severity index PSP Phenolsulfonphthalein PSS progressive systemic sclerosis (see scleroderma) PSVT paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia PT prothrombin time physical therapy (physiotherapy) Pt. patient (from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers") PTA percutaneous transluminal angioplasty post-traumatic amnesia prior to admission Peritonsillar abscess PTB pulmonary tuberculosis PTC percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography PTCA percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty PTD prior to discharge preterm delivery PTH parathyroid hormone PTHC percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography PTL preterm labor PTSD posttraumatic stress disorder PTSS posttraumatic stress syndrome (see posttraumatic stress disorder) PTT partial thromboplastin time PTU propylthiouracil PTx pneumothorax PU palindromic unit PUBS percutaneous umbilical blood sample PUD peptic ulcer disease PUO pyrexia of unknown origin PUVA psoralen UV A (photochemical ultraviolet light A waves) p.v. per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection)PVpolycythemia vera PVC (VPC) premature ventricular contraction PVD peripheral vascular disease PVFS post-viral fatigue syndrome PVI Peripheral vascular insufficiency Pulmonary vein isolation PVOD Pulmonary venoocclusive disease PVR pulmonary vascular resistancePostvoid residual urine volume PVS perivascular space persistent vegetative state pulmonary valve stenosis Plummer–Vinson syndrome PVT Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia PWD Pink, warm, and dry (skin assessment) PWP pulmonary wedge pressure Px px physical examination prognosis patient P-Y Pack-year (years of smoking multiplied by average number of packs, or fraction thereof, per day) PZA pyrazinamide
References