Medical and internet abbreviations commonly used on Preemie-L
Medical and internet abbreviations commonly used on Preemie-L
Medical abbreviations related to prematurity
ACC - Agenisis of Corpus Callosum
ASD - Atrial Septal Defect - a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart
ASD - Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorder
BF - Breastfed or Breastfeed/ing
B/M - Breast Milk
BM - Bowel Movement
BP - Blood pressure
BPD - Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, damage to lungs that often occurs
after long term (>28 days) ventilation
CP - Cerebral Palsy, disorder of the nervous system characterised by
abnormal muscle tone and movement
CPAP - Continuous Positive Airways Pressure, low pressure maintained in
lungs to help baby with breathing difficulties
CVI- Cortical Vision Impairment
CVL - Central Venous Line
DNR - Do Not Resuscitate, a medical order not to resuscitate a terminally ill baby.
ECMO - ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - supports both heart and lung
functions when other treatments are inadequate
ECG - Electrocardiogram - records activity of the heart (also known as
EKG)
EEG - ElectroEncephalagram - measures brainwaves for seizure activity
ELBW - Extremely Low Birth Weight - under 800 gr
FT - Full Term (37+ weeks gestational age)
GA - Gestational Age
G-tube - Gastrointenstinal Tube - tube goes through the abdominal wall and
directly into the intestines
GERD - GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease
GMH - Germinal Matrix Haemorrhage, the same as Grade I IVH
HELLP - Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low platelets
HMD - Hyaline Membrane Disease, also known as RDS
HMF - Human Milk Fortifier
IUGR - Intrauterine Growth Retardation - result is SGA
IVH - Intraventricular haemorrhage (brain bleed)
LBW - Low Birth Weight - under 2500 gr (5lb 8 oz) at birth regardless of g.a.
NEC - Necrotising EnteroColitis - inflammatory bowel disease
NG-tube - NasalGastric Tube - tube goes through the nose and down to the
stomach
NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
OT - Occupational Therapy/ist
OG-tube - OroGastric Tube - feeding tube that goes through mouth and
down to the stomach
PDA - Patent Ductus Arteriosus - when the ductus artery fails to close after birth.
PDD - Pervasive Developmental Disorder, also known as Autism/Autistic
Spectrum Disorder
PIE - Pulmonary Interstitial Emphysema
PT - Physical Therapy/ist
PTL - PreTerm Labor
PROM - Premature Rupture of membranes or Prelabour Rupture of
Membranes, when the membranes rupture prior to the onset
of labour
PVL - Periventricular leukomalacia, a condition where areas of the brain
are affected by lack of oxygen and/or blood supply which causes damage
to brain tissue
RAD - Reactive Airway Disease
RDS - Respiratory Distress Syndrome, respiratory difficulty due to
immaturity of lung tissues and deficiency of surfactant
in the air spaces
ROP - Retinopathy of Prematurity, an eye disease found primarily in
premature infants
RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus - a virus causing infections of the
upper and lower respiratory tract in preemies.
SCU - Special Care Unit
SGA - Small for Gestational Age
SID - Sensory Integration Disorder
SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
ST - Speech Therapy/ist
TPN - Total Parenteral Nutrition - nourishment provided intravenously
TTTS - Twin To Twin Transfusion Syndrome, occurs in identical twins,
can result in the death of one twin
UAC - Umbilical Arterial Catheter, tube inserted through artery in
baby's navel, used to draw blood samples, provide nutrition,
infuse blood and medications and monitor blood pressure (also known as
UAL)
UAL - Umbilical Arterial Line, tube inserted through artery in baby's
navel, used to draw blood samples, provide nutrition,
infuse blood and medications and monitor blood pressure (also known as
UAC)
UVC - Umbilical Venous Catheter, tube inserted through vein in baby's
navel to give fluid and nutrients and to monitor blood
pressure
VLBW - Very Low Birth Weight - under 1500 gr
VSD - Ventricular Septal Defect - a hole in the wall between the two lower chambers of the heart
Links to more detailed explanations of some of the abbreviations can be found on
The new language: common abbreviations by Jane E. Brazy, Ph.D. This page
is part of an excellent web site
For parents of preemies: answers to commonly asked questions
Internet abbreviations common on Preemie-L and other boards
BRB - Be right back (chat room comment)
BTW - By The Way
DH - Dear husband (also DS Dear son and DD dear daughter)
DHAC - Don't (or Doesn't) Have a Clue
FIL - Father in law
IMHO In My Humble Opinion
IMNSHO In My Not So Humble Opinion
LOL - Laughing out loud
MIL - Mother in law
OTOH - On The Other Hand
ROFL - Rolling on the floor laughing
TTFN - Ta Ta For Now
TTYL - Talk To You Later
<:)> Happy face
<:(> Sad face
:-| Straight Face
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