List of medical abbreviations: S

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AbbreviationMeaning
without (s with an overbar) (from Latin sine)
S sacrum
Sx symptoms
surgery (though deemed by some as inappropriate)
S1first heart sound
S2second heart sound
S3third heart sound
S4fourth heart sound
S&Osalpingo-oophorectomy
SbScholar batch
SAAGserum–ascites albumin gradient
SABstaphylococcal bacteremia
spontaneous abortion (that is, miscarriage)
SAD seasonal affective disorder
subacromial decompression
SAH subarachnoid hemorrhage
SAMsystolic anterior motion of the mitral valve

Severe acute malnutrition

SAN sinoatrial node
SaO2arterial oxygen saturation
SAPS II simplified acute physiology score
SAPS III simplified acute physiology score
SARseasonal allergic rhinitis
sub-acute rehabilitation facility
Sarc sarcoidosis
SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome
SBsmall bowel (see small intestine)
SBEsubacute bacterial endocarditis
SBFT small bowel follow through
SBMA spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
SBO small bowel obstruction
SBP systolic blood pressure
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
SBR Serum Bilirubin
SBRTsplit beam radiation therapy
SCSpinal Cord or subcutaneous (from Latin subcutis )
SCA spinocerebellar ataxia
SCATsex cord tumor with annular tubes
SCC squamous cell carcinoma
SCD sequential compression device
sickle-cell disease
sudden cardiac death
SCI spinal cord injury
SCID severe combined immunodeficiency
SCIWORA spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality
SCLC small cell lung cancer
scope microscope or endoscope
SCTsacrococcygeal tumor
SCZ schizophrenia
S.D.subdermal
SD
σ
standard deviation
SDH subdural hematoma
SDTIsuspected deep tissue injury
SE standard error
side effect
Sedsedimentation (rate) (see erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
SEEsyphilis elimination effort
Segs segmented cells
SEM standard error of the mean
systolic ejection murmur (see heart murmur)
SERMselective estrogen receptor modulator
SERT serotonin transporter
SFA superficial femoral artery
serum folic acid
SGA small for gestational age
SG cathSwan–Ganz catheter (see pulmonary artery catheter)
SG specific gravity (in urinanalysis)
SGB stellate ganglion block
SGOT serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SH
SHx
social history (personal habits, living situation, job)
SHBG sex hormone-binding globulin
shobshortness of breath (see dyspnea)
SHPT secondary hyperparathyroidism
SHx surgical history
SI International System of Units
suicidal ideation
seriously ill
sacroiliac (joint)
STACScaffolding theory of cognitive aging
SIADH syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
SICUsurgical intensive care unit
SIBO small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
SIDsemel in die meaning once daily. Used only in veterinary medicine.
SIDS sudden infant death syndrome
SILsquamous intraepithelial lesion
SIMVsynchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation
si op. sitif needed (from Latin si opus sit)
SIRSsystemic inflammatory response syndrome
SITstress inoculation training (see posttraumatic stress disorder)
SJS Stevens–Johnson syndrome
SK streptokinase
sl sublingual
SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
SLEV St Louis virus
SLLsmall lymphocytic lymphoma
SLN sublingual nitroglycerin
SLN
SLNB
sentinel lymph node biopsy
SLPspeech-language pathologist
SLR straight leg raise (see Lasègue's sign)
SM multiple sclerosis (from Latin sclerosis multiplex)
submucosal
Skeletal Muscle
SMA sequential multiple analysis
superior mesenteric artery
spinal muscle atrophy
SMA-6six-channel serum multiple analysis
SMA-7serum metabolic assay
SMNstatement of medical necessity
SMSsenior medical student
SMT spinal manipulative therapy
SMV superior mesenteric vein
SNstudent nurse
skilled nursing
SNBsentinel node biopsy (ductal carcinoma)
SNF skilled nursing facility
SNHL sensorineural hearing loss
SNP sodium nitroprusside
single nucleotide polymorphism
SNRI serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
SNVsin nombre virus (the most common type of hantavirus)
single nucleotide variant
SOsalpingo-oophoritis
SOAswelling of ankles
SOAP subjective, objective, assessment, plan (how physicians’ notes may be organized)
SOBshortness of breath (see dyspnea)
SOBOE shortness of breath on exertion
SOLspace-occupying lesion
Solsolution
SOOBsend out of bed
sitting out of bed
SOPsterile ophthalmic preparation
SORAstable on room air
SOSif needed (from Latin si opus sit)
SP
s/p
status post; condition after"
SPEstreptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin
Specspecimen
SPECT single-photon emission computed tomography
SPEP serum protein electrophoresis
SPET single-photon emission tomography
spp.species, as in bacterial species (e.g. Enterobacteriaceae spp.)
Sp. fl.spinal fluid (see cerebrospinal fluid)
Sp. gr.specific gravity
SPSsingle point (walking) stick
SQ
sq
subcutaneous
SRslow release (see also time release technology (medicine))
Sinus rhythm
SpO2peripheral capillary oxygen saturation
SROMspontaneous rupture of membranes
SRS stereotactic radiotherapy
sex reassignment surgery
SRUshock resuscitation unit
ss
ss
one-half (ss either with or without a bar over them) (from Latin semis)
SS hemoglobin SS (HbSS) (see in sickle-cell disease = SS disease)
subserosal
Sjogren's Syndrome
S/S
S/Sx
signs and symptoms
SSC secondary sex characteristics
SSEsterile speculum exam
SSEP somatosensory evoked potential
SSIsliding scale insulin
SSKIpotassium iodide solution
SSPEsubacute sclerosing panencephalitis
ssRNAsingle-stranded RNA
SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
SSSI skin and skin structure infection (also referred to as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection - ABSSSI)
SSSS staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
SSS sick sinus syndrome
STsore throat
speech therapy
Staph. Staphylococcus
STD sexually transmitted disease
statimmediately (from Latin statim)
STECShiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (another name for enterohemorrhagic E. coli)
STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarction
STH somatotropic hormone
STI sexually transmitted infection
soft tissue injury
STN Subthalamic nucleus
soft tissue neck
STNR Symmetrical tonic neck reflex
STOPsurgical termination of pregnancy (sometimes suction termination of pregnancy)
Strep.
Strepto.
Streptococcus
STSserological test for syphilis
soft tissue sarcoma
Subq subcutaneous
SUD substance use disorder
SUI stress urinary incontinence
Supp suppository
SUV standardized uptake value
Sux Suxamethonium chloride (Succinylcholine)
SV seminal vesicle
stroke volume
SVC superior vena cava
SVDspontaneous vaginal delivery
simple vertex delivery
SVEsterile vaginal examination
SVG Saphenous vein graft
SVI systemic viral infection
SVNsmall volume nebulizer
SVR systemic vascular resistance
SVT supraventricular tachycardia
SW Sturge–Weber syndrome
Sx symptoms
SXA single-energy X-ray absorptiometer
SXRskull x-ray
Sz seizure

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