Hospital Abbreviation Lexicon

The following are abbreviations commonly found by respiratory therapists in the hospital setting.

1. DNR:  Do not resuscitate
2. HMO:  Health maintenance organization
3. HME: Heat and Moisture Exchanger; artificial nose
4. NIV: Noninvasive Ventilation
5. NPPV:  Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation
6. BiPAP: BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure
7. CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
8. PEEP: Positive End Expiratory Pressure
9. IPAP: Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure
10. PS: Pressure Support
11. PSV:  Pressure Support Ventilation
12. PPV: Positive Pressure Ventilation
13. IPPB: Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
14. VS: Volume Support
15. AC: Assist Control
16. VCV:  Volume Control Ventilation
17. PRVC:  Pressure Regulated Volume Control
18. VC:  Volume Control
19. SIMV:  Synchronized Intermittent Minute Ventilation
20. IMV:  Intermittent Minute Ventilation
21. PCIRV:  Pressure Controlled Inverse Ratio Ventilation
22. APRV:  Airway Pressure Release Ventilation
23. MV:  Minute Ventilation
24. PEFR:  Peak flow Rate 
25. IC:  Inspiratory Capacity
26. FRC:  Forced Residual Capacity
27. TLC:  Total Lung Capacity
28. RV:  Residual Volume
29. IRV:  Inspiratory Residual Volume
30. ERV:  Expiratory Residual Volume
31. VC:  Vital Capacity
32. COPD:  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
33. CF:  Cystic Fibrosis
34. V:  VentilatiO2on
35. Q:  Perfussion
36. FiO2:  Fraction of inspired oxygen
37. PaO2:  Partial Pressure of arterial oxygen (blood gas)
38. PaCO2:  Partial Pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (blood gas)
39. O2:  Oxygen
40. CO2:  Carbon dioxide
41. SpO2:  Oxygen saturation (pulse oximeter)
42. EtCO2:  End tidal CO2 (calculated)
43. OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea
44. CHF:  Congested Heart Failure
45. CHD:  Coronary Heart Disease
46. MI:  Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
47. VT:  Tidal Volume
48. VE:  Minute Volume
49. ICU:  Intensive Care Unit
50. CCU:  Critical Care Unit
51. CXR:  Chest x-ray
52. RX:  Prescriptjion
53. ET:  Endotracheal
54. ETT:  Endotracheal Tube
55. EKG:  Electrocardiogram
56. EEG:  Electroencephalography
57. ABG: Arterial Blood Gas
58. CBC:  Complete Blood Count
59. LDL:  Bad cholesterol
60. HDL:  Good cholesterol
61. WBC: White Blood Cell
62. RBC:  Red Blood Cell
63. HCT:  Hematocrit
64. BMP:  Basic Metabolic Panel
65. BUN:  Blood Urea Nitrogen
66. CK:  Creatine Kinase
67.