| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| p̄ | after (from Latin post) [1] [letter p with a bar over it] |
| pH | Potential of Hydrogen - Acidity of a fluid |
| P | parturition (total number of live births) phosphorus pulse [1] post |
| POSM | plasma osmolality |
| PA | posterior–anterior, posteroanterior pulmonary artery [[physician assistant or associate [2] ]] psoriatic arthritis primary aldosteronism |
| P&A | percussion and auscultation [1] phenol and alcohol matrixectomy |
| PAC | premature atrial contraction pulmonary artery catheter, pulmonary artery catheterisation |
| PACU | Post-anesthesia care unit [1] |
| PAD | peripheral artery disease (aka peripheral artery occlusive disease) postadmission day (e.g. PAD 6 equals the sixth day of being in hospital) peripheral airspace disease Passively Acquired anti-D |
| PAE | prostatic artery embolization |
| PAF | platelet-activating factor paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF) |
| PAH | pulmonary arterial hypertension phenylalanine hydroxylase |
| PAI-1 | plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 |
| PAL | posterior axillary line |
| PALS | Pediatric advanced life support (training program) |
| PAN | polyarteritis nodosa |
| PAO | peak acid output |
| PAOD | peripheral artery occlusive disease |
| PAP | Papanicolaou stain positive airway pressure pulmonary artery pressure (see pulmonary hypertension) [1] pulmonary alveolar proteinosis |
| Pap | Papanicolaou test (pap smear) |
| PAPP-A | pregnancy-associated plasma protein A |
| PAPVR | partial anomalous pulmonary venous return |
| PARA I | indicating a woman with one child (partus = birth) [1] |
| PARA II | indicating a woman with two children (partus = birth) [1] |
| PASP | Pulmonary artery systolic pressure |
| PASH | Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia |
| PAT | paroxysmal atrial tachycardia |
| PBC | primary biliary cirrhosis, paired blood culture |
| PBX | probiotics |
| PBF | peripheral blood film |
| p.c. | after food (from Latin post cibum) after meals |
| PCA | patient-controlled analgesia |
| PCa | prostate cancer |
| PCD | postconcussional disorder primary ciliary dyskinesia |
| Pcele | Pseudomeningocele |
| PCI | percutaneous coronary intervention |
| PCIOL | posterior chamber intraocular lens |
| PCKD | Polycystic Kidney Disease |
| PCL | posterior cruciate ligament |
| PCN | penicillin |
| PCNL | Percutaneous nephrolithotomy |
| PCNSL | primary CNS (central nervous system) lymphoma |
| PCO | polycystic ovary (see polycystic ovary syndrome) |
| PCOS | polycystic ovarian syndrome |
| PCP | Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (now called Pneumocystis pneumonia) primary care physician (also called primary care provider) |
| PCR | patient care report polymerase chain reaction |
| PCS | post-concussion syndrome |
| PCT | progesterone challenge test Patient care technician |
| PCV | packed cell volume (see hematocrit) polycythemia vera |
| PCWP | pulmonary capillary wedge pressure |
| PD | Parkinson's disease paroxysmal dyskinesia peritoneal dialysis physical diagnosis personality disorder program director |
| PDA | patent ductus arteriosus posterior descending artery |
| PDD | premenstrual dysphoric disorder |
| PDE | phosphodiesterase |
| PDGF | platelet-derived growth factor |
| PDR | Physicians' Desk Reference |
| PDT | photodynamic therapy |
| PDVT | postoperative deep-vein thrombosis |
| PE | pulmonary embolism [1] pre-eclampsia pleural effusion physical examination [1] |
| PEA | pulseless electrical activity |
| PERRLA | pupils equal, round and reactive to light [3] |
| PEB | cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (chemotherapy regimen) |
| PEEP | positive end-expiratory pressure |
| PEF | peak expiratory flow |
| PEFR | peak expiratory flow rate |
| PEG | percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy |
| PEM | protein/energy malnutrition (aka Kwashiorkor) |
| pen | penicillin (Best practice is to avoid drug name abbreviations) |
| PEP | Post-exposure prophylaxis [4] |
| PERM | Progressive Encephalomyelitis with Rigidity and Myoclonus |
| PERRL | pupils equal, round, reactive to light |
| PERLA | pupils equal and reactive to light and accommodation [3] |
| PERRLA | pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation [3] |
| Per Vag | per vagina |
| PET | positron emission tomography (cerebral metabolic scan) |
| PFO | patent foramen ovale |
| PFT | pulmonary function test (see spirometry) |
| PGCS | Paediatric Glasgow Coma Scale |
| PH | Pulmonary hypertension Past history (see also medical history) |
| PHx | past history (see also medical history) |
| PHG | Portal hypertensive gastropathy |
| PHN | postherpetic neuralgia |
| PHP | Partial Hospitalization Program |
| PHQ | Patient Health Questionnaire |
| PHTLS | prehospital trauma life support |
| PI | present illness |
| PICC | peripherally inserted central catheter |
| PID | pelvic inflammatory disease prolapsed intervertebral disc |
| PIG-A | phosphatidyl inositol glycan A |
| PIH | pregnancy induced hypertension |
| PIP | proximal interphalangeal joint |
| PJS | Peutz-Jeghers syndrome |
| PK | protein kinase |
| PKA | protein kinase A |
| PKD | polycystic kidney disease |
| PKP | penetrating keratoplasty |
| PKU | phenylketonuria (PKU card—see Guthrie test) |
| PLAT | tissue plasminogen activator |
| PLIF | posterior lumbar interbody fusion (a type of spinal fusion) |
| PLT | platelets |
| PM | post meridiem (in the afternoon) |
| PMB | post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause) |
| PMD | primary medical doctor |
| PMDD | premenstrual dysphoric disorder |
| PMH | past medical history (see also medical history) perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage progressive macular hypomelanosis |
| PMI | point of maximal impulse or apical beat point of maximal intensity |
| PML | polyoma virus progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy |
| PMP | Pseudomyxoma peritonei |
| PMN | polymorphonuclear leukocytes, that is, neutrophils |
| PMR | percutaneous myocardial revascularization polymyalgia rheumatica proportionate mortality rate |
| PM&R | physical medicine and rehabilitation |
| PMS | premenstrual syndrome |
| PNA | pneumonia |
| PNA | postnatal age |
| PND | paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea postnasal drip |
| PNET | primitive neuroectodermal tumor |
| PNH | paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria |
| PNM | perinatal mortality |
| PNS | Peripheral Nervous System |
| PNV | Prenatal vitamin |
| PO | by mouth, that is, orally (from Latin per os ) |
| POA | (Health Care) Power of Attorney |
| POC | postoperative care products of conception Plan of Care |
| POCT | Point-Of-Care testing [5] |
| POD | postoperative days |
| POEMS | POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, myeloma protein and skin changes) |
| POLST | Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment |
| poly | polymorphonuclear cells, that is, neutrophils |
| PONV | postoperative nausea and vomiting |
| POP | pain on palpation |
| pelvic organ prolapse | |
| plaster of Paris | |
| progestin only pills | |
| Post | posterior (see anatomical terms of location) |
| POT | plan of treatment |
| POTS | postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome |
| POX | peroxidase |
| PP | pulse pressure postpartum, that is, postnatal postprandial |
| PPCS | prolonged post-concussion syndrome |
| PPD | packs per day (cigarettes) postpartum depression, that is, postnatal depression purified protein derivative or Mantoux test, for tuberculosis testing |
| PPE | personal protective equipment |
| PPF | posterior pharyngeal flap |
| PPH | postpartum haemorrhage primary pulmonary hypertension procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids |
| PPI | proton pump inhibitor |
| PPMS | Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis |
| PPROM | preterm prelabor rupture of membranes |
| PPS | post-polio syndrome |
| Ppt | precipitate precipitating |
| PPTCT | prevention of parent-to-child transmission (of HIV) (government of India initiative) |
| PPTL | postpartum tubal ligation |
| PPTP | Pediatric preclinical testing program |
| PPV | positive predictive value positive pressure ventilation |
| PPx | prophylaxis |
| PR | prothrombin ratio |
| p.r. | per rectum (as noun: rectal examination) |
| PRA | plasma renin activity |
| PRBC PRBCs | packed red blood cells |
| PREA | Pediatric Research Equity Act |
| Preme | premature infant (see premature birth) |
| Prep PrEP | preparation |
| PRES | Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome |
| PRIND | prolonged reversible ischemic neurologic deficit |
| PRL | prolactin |
| prn PRN | as necessary (from Latin pro re nata ) (if used in chronic pain control, sometimes disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") as needed |
| Prog | prognosis |
| PROM | prelabor rupture of membranes partial range of motion [1] |
| PRP | panretinal photocoagulation platelet-rich plasma progressive rubella panencephalitis |
| PRRE | purine-rich response element |
| PRV | polycythemia rubra vera (see polycythemia vera) |
| PSA | prostate-specific antigen |
| PBSO | partial small bowel obstruction |
| PSC | primary sclerosing cholangitis |
| PSCH | preoperative systemic chemotherapy |
| PSGN | poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis |
| PSH | Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity Past surgical history psychosocial history Past medical history (see also medical history) |
| PSI | Pneumonia severity index |
| PSP | phenylsulphtalein |
| PSS | progressive systemic sclerosis (see scleroderma) |
| PSVT | paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia |
| PT | prothrombin time physical therapy (physiotherapy) |
| Pt. | patient (from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers") |
| PTA | percutaneous transluminal angioplasty post-traumatic amnesia prior to admission Peritonsillar abscess |
| PTB | pulmonary tuberculosis |
| PTC | percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography |
| PTCA | percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
| PTD | prior to discharge preterm delivery |
| PTH | parathyroid hormone |
| PTHC | percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography |
| PTL | preterm labor |
| PTSD | posttraumatic stress disorder |
| PTSS | posttraumatic stress syndrome (see posttraumatic stress disorder) |
| PTT | partial thromboplastin time |
| PTU | propylthiouracil |
| PTx | pneumothorax |
| PU | palindromic unit |
| PUBS | percutaneous umbilical blood sample |
| PUD | peptic ulcer disease |
| PUO | pyrexia of unknown origin |
| PUVA | psoralen UV A (photochemical ultraviolet light A waves) |
| p.v. | per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection) |
| PV | polycythemia vera |
| PVC (VPC) | premature ventricular contraction |
| PVD | peripheral vascular disease |
| PVFS | post-viral fatigue syndrome |
| PVI | Peripheral vascular insufficiency Pulmonary vein isolation |
| PVOD | Pulmonary venoocclusive disease |
| PVR | pulmonary vascular resistance Postvoid residual urine volume |
| PVS | perivascular space persistent vegetative state pulmonary valve stenosis Plummer–Vinson syndrome |
| PVT | Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia |
| PWD | Pink, warm, and dry (skin assessment) |
| PWP | pulmonary wedge pressure |
| Px px | physical examination prognosis patient |
| P-Y | Pack-year (years of smoking multiplied by average number of packs, or fraction thereof, per day) |
| PZA | pyrazinamide |