Abbreviations and symbols

cross reference

↑ increased

↓ decreased

A-aDO₂ alveolar-arterial oxygen difference

ABC Airway, Breathing, Circulation

ABG arterial blood gas

ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme

ACh acetylcholine

ACLS advanced cardiac life support

ACS abdominal compartment syndrome

ACS acute coronary syndrome

ACT activated clotting time

ACTH adrenocorticotrophic hormone

ADH antidiuretic hormone

ADP adenosine diphosphate

AF atrial fibrillation

AFE amniotic fluid embolism

AGN acute glomerulonephritis

AHP allied health professionals

AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome

ALI acute lung injury

ALL acute lymphatic leukaemia

ALT alaninine aminotransferase

AML acute myeloid leukaemia

ANCA anti-nuclear cytoplasmic antibodies

AP airway pressure

APACHE acute physiology and chronic health evaluation

APC antigen-presenting cell

APC atrial premature contraction (Ch 5)

APTT activated partial thromboplastin time

ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF acute renal failure

AST aspartate transaminase

ATN acute tubular necrosis

ATP adenosine triphosphate

AV atrioventricular

aVF augmented view foot

aVL augmented view left

aVR augmented view right

bd bis die (twice daily)

BIS™ bispectral index

BiPAP bilevel positive airway pressure

BNP brain (B)-type natriuretic peptide

BP blood pressure

bpm beats per minute

BSA body surface area

BSD brain stem death

C.diff Clostridium difficile

CABG coronary artery bypass graft

CaCl₂ calcium chloride

cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CAVH continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration

CBF cerebral blood flow

CBV cerebral blood volume

CCK cholecystokinin

CCU critical care unit

CFM cerebral function monitor

cGMP cyclic guanosine monophosphate

ChE cholinesterase

CI cardiac index

CK creatinine kinase

CLL chronic lymphatic leukaemia

CML chronic myeloid leukaemia

CMV controlled mandatory ventilation/cytomegalovirus

CNS central nervous system

CO cardiac output

COP capillary oncotic pressure

COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPAP continuous positive airway pressure

CPK creatinine phosphokinase

CPP cerebral perfusion pressure

CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRP C-reactive protein

CRT capillary refill time

CSF cerebrospinal fluid

CSW cerebral salt wasting

CT computerised tomography

CVA cerebrovascular accident

CVC central venous catheter

CVP central venous pressure

CVVH continuous venovenous haemofiltration

CVVHD continuous venovenous haemodialysis

CVVHDF continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration

CXR chest X-ray

2, 3-DPG 2, 3-diphosphoglyeric acid

DAI diffuse axonal injury

DEAFF detection of early antigen fluorescent foci

DI diabetes insipidus

DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation

DKA diabetic ketoacidosis

DO₂ oxygen delivery

DO₂I oxygen delivery index

DSA digital subtraction angiography

DVT deep vein thrombosis

ECG electrocardiogram

ECMO extracorporeal membrane exygenation

EDH extradural haematoma

EDV end diastolic volume

EEG electroencephalogram

EF ejection fraction

EFM electronic foetal monitoring

EMG electromyography

ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholecystic pancreatogram

ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ESV end systolic volume

ET(T) endotracheal (tube)

ETCO₂ end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring

FDPs fibrin degradation products

FEV₁ forced expired volume in 1 second

FFP fresh frozen plasma

FHR foetal heart rate

F_iO₂ fractionated inspired oxygen concentration

FRC functional residual capacity

FVC forced vital capacity

g gram

GBS Guillain-Barre syndrome

GCS Glasgow Coma Score

GFR glomerular filtration rate

GHB gamma hyroxybutyrate

GHRH growth hormone-releasing hormone

GI gastrointestinal

GIK glucose-insulin-potassium

GM-CSF granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

GTN glyceryl trinitrate

HADS Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

HAI hospital acquired infection

Hb haemoglobin

HbA adult haemaglobin

HbCO carboxyhaemaglobin

HbS sickle cell haemaglobin

HELLP haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets

HEPA high efficiency particulate air

HHS hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic states

HIT heparin-included thrombocytopenia

HIV human immunodeficiency virus

HME heat moisture exchange

HOCM hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

HPA hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal

HR heart rate

HRS hepatorenal syndrome

HUS haemolytic uraemic syndrome

I:E inspiratory:expiratory

IAH intra-abdominal hypertension

IAP intra-abdominal pressure

ICH intracerebral haematoma

ICP intracranial pressure

ICS intensive care society

ICU intensive care unit

IDDM insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

IE infective endocarditis

IGF insulin–like growth factor

IHD intermittent haemodialysis

im intramuscular

IMV intermittent mandatory ventilation

INR international normalized ratio

IPPV intermittent positive pressure ventilation

ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

IU international unit

iv intravenous

IVC inferior vena cava

IVIg intravenous immunoglobulin

JVP jugular venous pressure

KCL potassium chloride

Kg kilogram

KPa kilopascal

KPTT kaolin partial thromboplastin time

L litre

LAP left atrial pressure

LBBB left bundle branch block

LDH lactic dehydrogenase

LFT liver function test

LiCl lithium chloride

LiDCO™ lithium dilution cardiac output

LMA laryngeal mask airway

LMWH low molecular-weight heparin

LOS length of stay

LV left ventricle

LVED left ventricular end diastolic

LVEDV left ventricular end diastolic volume

LVF left ventricular failure

μg microgram

μmol micromole

MABP mean arterial blood preassure

MAOI monoamine oxidase inhibitor

MAP mean arterial pressure

MARS molecular adsorption recycling system

MC&S microscopy, culture and sensitivity

mcg microgram

MDMA methylenedioxymethamfetamine

MET medical emergency team

MetHb methaemoglobin

MEWS modified early warning score

MG myasthenia gravis

mg milligram

MI myocardial infarction

MODS multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

mOsmol milliosmole

MPAP mean pulmonary artery pressure

MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

MV minute volume

MW molecular weight

NAC n-acetylcysteine

ng nanogram

NG nasogastric

NICE National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

NIDDM non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

NiPPY non-invasive positive pressure ventilator

NIV non-invasive ventilation

NMBA neuromuscular blocking agents

NO nitric oxide

NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

NSTEMI non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

NYHA New York Heart Association

O₂ER oxygen extraction ratio

od once daily

P_ACO₂ partial pressure of alveolar carbon dioxide

PA pulmonary artery

P_aCO₂ partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide

P_AO₂ partial pressure of alveolar oxygen

P_aO₂ partial pressure of arterial oxygen

PAOP pulmonary artery occlusion pressure

PAWP pulmonary artery wedge pressure

PCA patient-controlled analgesia

PCI percutaneous intervention

pCO₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide

PCP Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

PCR polymerase chain reaction

PCV packed cell volume

PCWP pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PD peritoneal dialysis

PE pulmonary embolus

PEA pulseless electrical activity

PEEP positive end expiratory pressure

PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PEJ percutaneous jejunostomy tube

PERT patient emergency response team

PiCCO pulse contour cardiac output monitor

PImax maximum inspiratory pressure

po to be taken orally

pO₂ partial pressure O₂

PPI proton pump inhibitor

ppm parts per million

PR per rectum

PRN pro re nata – as required

PS pressure support

PSTD post-traumatic stress disorder

PSV pressure support ventilation

PT prothrombin time

PVC polyvinyl chloride

PVR pulmonary vascular resistance

PX plasma exchange

QALY quality-adjusted life year

Qs/Qt shunt fraction

QT Q-T interval

RA right atrium

RAA renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (pathway)

RASS Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale

RBBB right bundle branch block

RBC red blood cell

RCT randomized controlled trial

REM rapid eye movement

ROC receiver operating characteristic

ROM range of movement

RQ respiratory quotient

RR relative risk

RR respiratory rate

RRT renal replacement therapy

RSBI rapid shallow breathing index

rTPA recombinant tissue plasminogen activator

RV right ventricle

SA sinoatrial

SAH subarachnoid haemorrhage

SALT speech and language therapist

S_aO₂ arterial oxygen saturation

SAPS simplified acute physiology score

SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome

SBAR situation, background, assessment, recommendation

SBE subacute bacterial endocarditis

SBP systolic blood pressure

SBT spontaneous breathing trials

SCUF slow continuous ultrafiltration

SD standard deviation

SDD selective decontamination of the Digestive tract

SDH subdural haematoma

SE status epilepticus

SIADH syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone

SIMV synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation

SIP sickness impact profile

SIRS systemic inflammatory response syndrome

S_jO₂ mixed venous oxygen saturation

S_jvO₂ jugular venous bulb oxygen saturation

SLE systemic lupus erythematosus

SLT speech and language therapist

SOFA Sequential Organ Failure Assessment

S_pO₂ pulse oximeter oxygen saturation

STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarction

SV stroke volume

SVC superior vena cava

S_vO₂ mixed venous oxygen saturation

SVR systemic vascular resistance

SVT supraventricular tachycardia

TB tuberculosis

TBG thyroxine-binding globulin

TBI traumatic brain injury

TCD transcranial Doppler

TED thrombo-embolism deterrent

TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

TIPSS transjugular intrahepatic portal systemic shunt

TISS therapeutic intervention scoring system

TMA thrombotic microangiopathy

TMP transmembrane pressure

TNF tumour necrosis factor

tPA tissue plasminogen activator

TPN total parenteral nutrition

TRALI transfusion-related acute lung injury

TRH thyrotrophin-releasing hormone

tSAH traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage

TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone

TT thrombin time

TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

TURP trans urethral prostatectomy

TXA₂ thromboxane A₂

UA unstable angina

U&E urea and electrolytes

UPS uninterrupted power supply

UTI urinary tract infection

V ventilation

V/Q ventilation/perfusion

VAP ventilator-associated pneumonia

VC vital capacity

VC-IRV volume controlled inverse ratio ventilation

V_D dead space

VEs ventricular premature contractions (ectopics)

VF ventricular fibrillation

VMA vanillylmandelic acid

VO₂I oxygen consumption index

VSD ventricular septal defect

V_T tidal volume

VT ventricular tachycardia

vWF von Willebrand factor

VZE varicella zoster encephalitis

WBC white blood cell

WBPTT whole blood partial thromboplastin time

WCC white cell count

WFNS World Federation of Neurological Surgeons

WG Wegener’s granulomatosis

WPW Wolff–Parkinson–White (syndrome)

WTE whole time equivalent