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