The New Language: Common Abbreviations

What do all these abbreviations mean?

The world of newborn intensive care has a language all of its own. Many diseases and therapies are abbreviated. Common abbreviations are listed below. If your baby’s nurse or doctor uses a term you don’t understand, ask!!! Soon, you too will be talking in alphabet soup J

Common Abbreviations:

A&B Apnea and Bradycardia

Bili Bilirubin

BP Blood Pressure

BPD Brochopulmonary Displasia

CNS Central Nervous System (brain or spinal cord)

CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (air or oxygen delivered under a small amount of pressure)

CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

ET Endotracheal Tube (refers to the tube placed through the mouth to the windpipe)

Hi-Fi/HFV High Frequency Ventilator

ID Infectious Disease or Identification

IMV Intermediate Mandatory Ventilation (refer to the # of breaths per minute by the ventilator)

IV Intravenous (by vein)

IVH Intraventricular Hemorrhage

LP Lumbar Puncture (getting sample of spinal fluid using a needle)

NEC Necrotizing Enterocolitis

NG Nasal Gastric (tube going from nose to stomach)

NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NPO Nothing by Mouth

OG Oral Gastric (tube going from mouth to stomach)

OT Occupational Therapy

PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus

PT Phsyical Therapist

PVL Periventricular Leukomalacia

RN Registered Nurse

ROP Retinopathy of Prematurity

RDS Respiratory Distress Syndrome

SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

TPR Temperature, Pulse and Respiration

TTNB Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn

TPN or TNA Total Parenteral Nutrition (nutrition by vein)

UAC Umbilical Artery Catheter

UTI Urinary Tract (kidney or bladder) infection

UVC Umbilical Venous Catheter

VS Vital Signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure)