Health Abbreviations & Acronyms

Acronyms abound in our health world. Here you'll find many common health acronyms and what they abbreviate. Use the search box for quick health abbreviation lookup!

P
  • P - pulse
  • P&A - percussion and auscultation
  • p.c. / pc - after meals
  • PA - pulmonary artery
  • PAC - premature atrial contraction
  • PACU - post anesthesia care unit
  • PAP - pulmonary artery pressure;Papanicolaou test or smear
  • PCA - patient controlled analgesia
  • PCN - penicillin
  • PCP - primary care physician
  • PCWP - pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
  • PD - Parkinson's disease
  • PDD - pervasive developmental disorder
  • PDR - physicians desk reference
  • PE - physical examination;pulmonary embolism
  • PEEP - positive end expiratory pressure
  • PERL - pupils equal and reactive to light
  • PERRLA - pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
  • PET - positron emission tomography
  • PFT - pulmonary function testing
  • PI - present illness
  • PICU - pediatric intensive care unit
  • PID - pelvic inflammatory disease
  • PIH - pregnancy induced hypertension
  • PLT - platelets
  • PMH - past medical history
  • po - by mouth
  • POD - post-operative day
  • POS - positive
  • PP - postprandial
  • PR - by rectum
  • PRBCs - packed red blood cells
  • PRN - as needed
  • PSA - prostate specific antigen
  • PT - physical therapy;prothrombin time
  • PTH - parathyroid hormone
  • PTT - partial thromboplastin time
  • PUD - peptic ulcer disease
  • PVC - premature ventricular contraction
  • PVD - peripheral vascular disease