Cardiology Abbreviations

This list collects 407 cardiology abbreviations — heart and circulation terms found in cardiology notes, ECG reports and cardiac charts. Every entry shows the full form and a plain-English meaning. One abbreviation can appear in several specialty lists when it is genuinely used in more than one area, and abbreviations with more than one common meaning get a row for each meaning. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists: write them out in full wherever possible.

QR code to this page The printable sheet carries this page's web address and a QR code, so a paper copy always leads back to the live searchable list at https://www.medicalvideos.com/medical-abbreviations/cardiology/

Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
2g Na diet	two-gram sodium diet	Low-salt diet order	Nursing Cardiology Renal & Nephrology
AAA	abdominal aortic aneurysm	Bulging weak spot in the aorta in the abdomen	Cardiology Surgery
AAA repair	abdominal aortic aneurysm repair	Operation fixing a swollen main artery in the abdomen	Surgery Cardiology
ABI	ankle-brachial index	Ratio comparing ankle and arm blood pressures to check leg flow	Cardiology
ABPI	ankle-brachial pressure index	Ratio comparing blood pressure at ankle and arm	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
ACE	angiotensin-converting enzyme	Enzyme involved in controlling blood pressure	Cardiology
ACEI	angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor	Blood pressure medicine blocking an enzyme that tightens vessels	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology Renal & Nephrology
ACLS	advanced cardiovascular life support	Advanced emergency care for cardiac arrest and dangerous rhythms	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
ACS	acute coronary syndrome	Sudden reduced blood flow to the heart, including heart attack	Cardiology
ACT	activated clotting time	Bedside test of blood clotting during procedures	Laboratory Cardiology Surgery
acyanotic	acyanotic heart defects (group)	Heart defects without blue discoloration	Pediatrics Cardiology
ADAPT	accelerated diagnostic protocol (chest pain)	Two-hour chest pain assessment pathway	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
Adeno	adenosine	Medicine briefly slowing the heart's electrical conduction	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
AED	automated external defibrillator	Portable device that shocks the heart in cardiac arrest	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
AF	atrial fibrillation	Irregular, rapid heart rhythm from the upper chambers	Cardiology
AFL	atrial flutter	Fast, regular fluttering rhythm in the upper heart chambers	Cardiology
AI	aortic insufficiency	Leaking aortic valve; another name for aortic regurgitation	Cardiology
ALI	acute limb ischemia	Sudden limb artery blockage threatening the limb	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
Amio	amiodarone	Medicine controlling abnormal heart rhythms	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology
Angio	angiography	X-ray imaging of vessels using contrast	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
Ao	aorta	Main artery carrying blood from the heart to the body	Cardiology
Ao arch	aortic arch (anatomy)	Curved top segment of the aorta	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
ApoA1	apolipoprotein A1	Main protein of HDL cholesterol particles	Laboratory Cardiology
ApoB	apolipoprotein B	Protein counting artery-related cholesterol particles	Laboratory Cardiology
APOE	apolipoprotein E	Gene influencing cholesterol and Alzheimer's risk	Laboratory Neurology Cardiology
AR	aortic regurgitation	Leaking of the aortic valve back into the heart	Cardiology
ARB	angiotensin receptor blocker	Blood pressure medicine blocking an artery-tightening hormone	Cardiology
ARNI	angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor	Heart failure medicine combining two hormone-blocking actions	Cardiology
ARR	aldosterone-to-renin ratio	Ratio used when screening for primary aldosteronism	Laboratory Endocrinology Cardiology
ARVC	arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy	Heart muscle condition causing rhythm problems	Cardiology
AS	aortic stenosis	Narrowing of the valve between the heart and the aorta	Cardiology
ASA	acetylsalicylic acid	Aspirin; a medicine that reduces clotting and pain	Cardiology
asc Ao	ascending aorta	First segment of the aorta leaving the heart	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
ASD	atrial septal defect	Hole in the wall between the upper heart chambers	Cardiology Pediatrics
ATRIA	ATRIA bleeding score	Bleeding risk score in atrial fibrillation	Cardiology
ATTR	transthyretin amyloidosis	Protein deposit disease affecting heart and nerves	Cardiology Neurology
AV	atrioventricular	Relating to the area between the upper and lower heart chambers	Cardiology
AV canal	atrioventricular canal defect (complete)	Combined hole and valve defect of the heart center	Pediatrics Cardiology
AV node	atrioventricular node	Electrical relay between the heart's upper and lower chambers	Cardiology
AVB	atrioventricular block	Delayed or blocked signal between upper and lower heart chambers	Cardiology
AVR	aortic valve replacement	Surgery to replace the aortic valve	Cardiology Surgery
AVSD	atrioventricular septal defect	Hole in the center of the heart involving both septa	Cardiology Pediatrics
balloon pump	intra-aortic balloon pump (device)	Heart-assist balloon — device	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
BB	beta blocker	Medicine slowing the heart and lowering blood pressure	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology
BBB	bundle branch block	Blocked electrical pathway in one branch to the lower chambers	Cardiology
BLS	basic life support	Basic emergency care including CPR and defibrillator use	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
BMS	bare-metal stent	Plain metal heart artery stent without medicine coating	Cardiology
BNP	B-type natriuretic peptide	Blood marker released when the heart is stretched	Cardiology Laboratory
BP	blood pressure	Pressure of blood against artery walls	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
BPM	beats per minute	Number of heartbeats in one minute	Vitals & Assessment Cardiology
BrS	Brugada syndrome	Inherited heart rhythm condition with a characteristic ECG pattern	Cardiology
bruit	bruit (access examination)	Whooshing sound of a working fistula — exam	Renal & Nephrology Nursing Cardiology
BT shunt	Blalock-Taussig shunt (modified)	Tube creating lung blood flow in babies	Pediatrics Cardiology Surgery
CABG	coronary artery bypass graft	Surgery using a graft to bypass a blocked heart artery	Cardiology Surgery
CABG	coronary artery bypass grafting	Heart bypass surgery	Surgery Cardiology
CAD	coronary artery disease	Narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle	Cardiology
CAD-RADS	coronary artery disease reporting system	Standard categories for coronary CT reports	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
carotid sinus	carotid sinus syncope (hypersensitivity)	Fainting from neck pressure sensitivity	Cardiology Neurology
carotid stent	carotid artery stenting	Stent opening a narrowed neck artery	Surgery Neurology Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
Cath	cardiac catheterization	Tube procedure imaging and treating heart arteries	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
CAV	cardiac allograft vasculopathy	Transplant heart artery disease over time	Cardiology Surgery
CCA	common carotid artery	Main neck artery before it splits into two branches	Cardiology
CCB	calcium channel blocker	Medicine relaxing blood vessels and slowing the heart	Cardiology
CCHD	critical congenital heart disease	Serious heart defect present from birth requiring early treatment	Pediatrics Cardiology
CCHD screen	critical congenital heart disease screening	Pulse oximetry screening of newborns	Pediatrics Cardiology Nursing
CCS class	Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class	Angina severity grading	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
CCU	coronary care unit	Specialist unit for serious heart conditions	Cardiology
CEA	carotid endarterectomy	Surgery to remove plaque from the neck artery	Cardiology Surgery
CFA	common femoral artery	Main groin artery to the leg	General Medical Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
CHA2DS2-VASc	CHA2DS2-VASc score	Stroke risk score in atrial fibrillation, from its factor initials	Cardiology
channelopathy	channelopathy (ion channel group)	Diseases of electrical membrane channels	Neurology Cardiology
CHARGE	CHARGE syndrome (association)	Eye, heart, nose, growth and ear defect pattern	Pediatrics Cardiology
CHB	complete heart block	No signal passing between upper and lower heart chambers	Cardiology
CHD	congenital heart disease	Heart problem present from birth	Pediatrics Cardiology
CHD	coronary heart disease	Heart disease caused by narrowed heart arteries	Cardiology
CHF	congestive heart failure	Heart failure with fluid build-up in lungs or body	Cardiology
Chol	cholesterol	Fatty substance measured in blood	Laboratory Cardiology
CI	cardiac index	Cardiac output adjusted for body size	Cardiology
CICU	cardiac intensive care unit	Intensive care unit for critically ill heart patients	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CK	creatine kinase	Enzyme released from damaged muscle	Laboratory Cardiology
CK-MB	creatine kinase MB fraction	Heart-related fraction of a muscle enzyme	Laboratory Cardiology
CK-MB	creatine kinase-MB	Blood enzyme marker of heart muscle injury	Cardiology Laboratory
CLI	critical limb ischemia	Severe leg artery blockage threatening the limb	Cardiology
CLTI	chronic limb-threatening ischemia	Long-term severe limb artery disease threatening the limb	Cardiology
CO	cardiac output	Amount of blood the heart pumps each minute	Cardiology
CoA	coarctation of the aorta	Narrowing of the main artery from the heart	Cardiology
convulsive syncope	convulsive syncope (mimic)	Fainting with brief jerking movements	Neurology Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
cough syncope	cough syncope (situational)	Fainting after hard coughing	Cardiology Neurology Respiratory
CP	chest pain	Pain or discomfort felt in the chest	Cardiology General Medical
CPET	cardiopulmonary exercise test	Exercise test measuring heart and lung responses together	Cardiology Respiratory
CPR	cardiopulmonary resuscitation	Chest compressions and rescue breaths for cardiac arrest	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CPVT	catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia	Inherited rhythm disorder triggered by exercise or emotion	Cardiology Pediatrics
CRT	cardiac resynchronization therapy	Pacing therapy that coordinates both lower heart chambers	Cardiology
CRT-D	cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator	Coordinating pacemaker that can also deliver a shock	Cardiology
CRT-D device	cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (device)	Biventricular pacing and shocking device	Cardiology
CRT-P	cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker	Coordinating pacemaker without a shock function	Cardiology
cryptogenic	cryptogenic stroke (term)	Stroke without a found cause	Neurology Cardiology
CS anatomy	coronary sinus (anatomy)	Large vein collecting the heart's own blood	Cardiology
CTA	computed tomography angiography	CT scan using contrast to image blood vessels	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
CTEPH	chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension	High lung pressure caused by old blood clots in lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
cTn	cardiac troponin	Blood protein released when heart muscle is injured	Cardiology Laboratory
cTnI	cardiac troponin I	Heart muscle protein released after heart injury	Laboratory Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
cTnT	cardiac troponin T	Heart muscle protein released after heart injury	Laboratory Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CTPA	computed tomography pulmonary angiography	CT scan with contrast to look for lung artery clots	Cardiology Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
CV	cardiovascular	Relating to the heart and blood vessels	Cardiology
CVD	cardiovascular disease	Disease of the heart and blood vessels	Cardiology
CVP	central venous pressure	Pressure in the large vein near the heart	Cardiology
CVS	cardiovascular system	The heart and blood vessels, as in examination	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
CW	continuous-wave Doppler	Doppler measuring high-velocity flow	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
cyanotic	cyanotic heart defects (group)	Heart defects causing blue discoloration	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
daily weights	daily weights (order)	Same-time daily weighing to track fluid	Nursing Cardiology Renal & Nephrology
DAPT	dual antiplatelet therapy	Two blood-thinning medicines used together to protect stents	Cardiology
DASH diet	Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet	Blood-pressure-lowering eating pattern	Nursing Cardiology
DBP	diastolic blood pressure	Bottom blood pressure number, when the heart rests	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
DCM	dilated cardiomyopathy	Stretched, weakened heart muscle that pumps poorly	Cardiology
DEB	drug-eluting balloon	Angioplasty balloon coated with drug	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
defecation syncope	defecation syncope (situational)	Fainting during bowel movements	Cardiology Neurology
Defib	defibrillation	Electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm	Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
delayed OH	delayed orthostatic hypotension	Pressure drop after several minutes standing	Neurology Cardiology
DES	drug-eluting stent	Heart artery stent that slowly releases medicine	Cardiology
desc Ao	descending aorta	Aorta segment traveling down the chest and belly	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
desquamation	desquamation (peeling phase)	Skin peeling after scarlet fever or Kawasaki	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
Diag	diagonal branch (coronary)	Branch of the LAD to the front-side wall	Cardiology
Dig	digoxin	Heart medicine from the foxglove plant	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology
DiGeorge	DiGeorge syndrome (22q11)	Chromosome 22 deletion syndrome	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
DOAC	direct oral anticoagulant	Newer blood-thinning tablet acting on one clotting factor	Cardiology
Dobut	dobutamine	Medicine strengthening heart contractions	Prescription & Medication Orders Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
Doppler	Doppler ultrasound	Ultrasound measuring blood flow	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
DORV	double outlet right ventricle	Birth defect where both great arteries arise from the right chamber	Cardiology Pediatrics
ductal-dependent	ductal-dependent lesion (term)	Heart defect needing the fetal channel open	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
DUS	duplex ultrasound	Ultrasound combining pictures and flow measurement	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
DVT	deep vein thrombosis	Blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg	Cardiology
E/e'	E to e prime ratio	Echo estimate of heart filling pressure	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
Ebstein	Ebstein anomaly (tricuspid)	Downward displaced tricuspid valve	Pediatrics Cardiology
ECD	endocardial cushion defect (AV canal)	Alternate name for the canal defect	Pediatrics Cardiology
ECG	electrocardiogram	Recording of the heart's electrical activity	Cardiology
Echo	echocardiogram	Ultrasound scan of the heart	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
ECMO	extracorporeal membrane oxygenation	Machine that oxygenates blood outside the body	Cardiology Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
EDACS	Emergency Department Assessment of Chest Pain Score	Accelerated chest pain rule-out score	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
Edema grading	oedema grading	Scale grading swelling by depth of pitting	Vitals & Assessment Renal & Nephrology Cardiology
EF	ejection fraction	Percentage of blood the heart pumps out with each beat	Cardiology
EHRA	European Heart Rhythm Association score	Symptom score for atrial fibrillation	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
Eisenmenger	Eisenmenger syndrome (physiology)	Reversed shunt from lung pressure — physiology	Pediatrics Cardiology
EKG	electrocardiogram	Recording of the heart's electrical activity	Cardiology
EPS	electrophysiology study	Catheter test mapping the heart's electrical system	Cardiology
ESUS	embolic stroke of undetermined source	Stroke pattern suggesting hidden embolism	Neurology Cardiology
ETT	exercise tolerance test	Heart test while walking on a treadmill to stress the heart	Cardiology
EVAR	endovascular aneurysm repair	Repair of an aortic bulge from inside the vessel with a stent graft	Cardiology Surgery
event monitor	cardiac event monitor (device)	Patient-triggered rhythm recorder	Cardiology
exercise challenge	exercise challenge test (bronchial)	Running test provoking airway narrowing	Pediatrics Respiratory Cardiology
FFR	fractional flow reserve	Pressure measurement of how much a narrowing limits blood flow	Cardiology
fluid restriction	fluid restriction (order)	Limited daily intake order	Renal & Nephrology Cardiology Nursing Endocrinology
Fontan	Fontan procedure (completion)	Final-stage single ventricle circulation	Pediatrics Cardiology Surgery
four-limb BP	four-extremity blood pressures (coarctation)	Comparing arm and leg pressures for aorta narrowing	Pediatrics Cardiology Nursing
Glenn	Glenn procedure (bidirectional)	Second-stage single ventricle surgery	Pediatrics Cardiology Surgery
GLS	global longitudinal strain	Echo measure of heart muscle deformation	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
GRACE	Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score	Risk score after heart events	Cardiology
GTN	glyceryl trinitrate	Nitrate medicine relaxing blood vessels, used for chest pain	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology
HAS-BLED	HAS-BLED score	Bleeding risk score in atrial fibrillation, from its factor initials	Cardiology
HCM	hypertrophic cardiomyopathy	Thickened heart muscle that can obstruct blood flow	Cardiology
HCTZ	hydrochlorothiazide	Water tablet medicine increasing urine production	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology Renal & Nephrology
HDL	high-density lipoprotein	The 'good' cholesterol that carries cholesterol away	Cardiology Laboratory
HEART	HEART score	Score estimating heart risk in chest pain patients	Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
HEART pathway	HEART Pathway	Structured early discharge chest-pain pathway	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
HEART score	HEART score (chest pain)	Emergency chest pain risk score	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment
HEMORR2HAGES	HEMORR2HAGES score	Older bleeding risk score in atrial fibrillation	Cardiology
heterotaxy	heterotaxy (organ arrangement)	Abnormal left-right organ patterning	Pediatrics Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
HF	heart failure	Condition where the heart does not pump well enough	Cardiology
HFmrEF	heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction	Heart failure with a slightly low pumping fraction	Cardiology
HFpEF	heart failure with preserved ejection fraction	Heart failure where the pumping fraction stays normal but filling is stiff	Cardiology
HFrEF	heart failure with reduced ejection fraction	Heart failure where the pumping fraction is low	Cardiology
HLHS	hypoplastic left heart syndrome	Birth defect where the left heart is severely underdeveloped	Cardiology Pediatrics
HOCM	hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy	Thickened heart muscle that blocks blood leaving the heart	Cardiology
Holter	Holter monitor (device)	Continuous day-long heart rhythm recorder	Cardiology
HR	heart rate	Number of heartbeats per minute	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
hs-CRP	high-sensitivity C-reactive protein	Very sensitive inflammation test used for heart risk	Laboratory Cardiology
HTN	hypertension	High blood pressure	Cardiology
hyperkalemia management	hyperkalemia management (ECG)	High potassium emergency care	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology Cardiology
hyperoxia test	hyperoxia test (newborn cyanosis)	Oxygen challenge distinguishing heart from lung causes	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
IABP	intra-aortic balloon pump	Balloon device in the aorta that supports heart pumping	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
ICA	internal carotid artery	Neck artery supplying most of the brain	Cardiology
ICD	implantable cardioverter-defibrillator	Implanted device that shocks the heart out of dangerous rhythms	Cardiology
ICD device	implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (device)	Implanted shocking device — device	Cardiology
ICE	intracardiac echocardiography	Ultrasound imaging from inside the heart	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
IE	infective endocarditis	Infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart	Cardiology
IHCA	in-hospital cardiac arrest	Cardiac arrest occurring inside a hospital	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
IHD	ischemic heart disease	Heart disease caused by reduced blood supply to heart muscle	Cardiology
ILR	implantable loop recorder (device)	Under-skin long-term rhythm recorder	Cardiology
incomplete Kawasaki	incomplete Kawasaki disease (term)	Kawasaki without the full criteria	Pediatrics Cardiology
initial OH	initial orthostatic hypotension	Brief pressure drop immediately on standing	Neurology Cardiology
innocent murmur	innocent murmur (term)	Harmless childhood heart sound	Pediatrics Cardiology
interrupted arch	interrupted aortic arch (defect)	Gap in the aorta arch	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
introducer	introducer sheath (device)	Large-bore access sheath for catheters	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging
ISDN	isosorbide dinitrate	Nitrate medicine for chest pain and heart failure	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology
ISMN	isosorbide mononitrate	Long-acting nitrate medicine for chest pain	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology
IVC	inferior vena cava	Large vein bringing blood from the lower body to the heart	Cardiology
IVC anatomy	inferior vena cava (anatomy)	Great vein returning lower body blood — anatomy	General Medical Cardiology
IVC collapsibility	inferior vena cava collapsibility	Ultrasound clue to fluid status	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care
IVCD	intraventricular conduction delay	Slowed electrical conduction within the lower heart chambers	Cardiology
IVUS	intravascular ultrasound	Ultrasound from inside a blood vessel to see its wall	Cardiology
Jones criteria rheum	Jones criteria (rheumatic fever)	Diagnostic criteria for rheumatic fever	Pediatrics Cardiology
JVD	jugular venous distension	Bulging neck veins from raised pressure in the right heart	Cardiology
JVP	jugular venous pressure	Neck vein pressure reflecting pressure in the right heart	Cardiology
Kawasaki	Kawasaki disease (diagnosis)	Childhood vessel inflammation — diagnosis	Pediatrics Cardiology Infectious Disease
KD	Kawasaki disease	Childhood illness causing inflammation of blood vessels	Pediatrics Cardiology
LA	left atrium	Upper chamber receiving oxygen-rich blood from the lungs	Cardiology
LAAO	left atrial appendage occlusion	Procedure closing a heart pouch to reduce clot risk	Surgery Cardiology
LAD	left anterior descending artery	Major front artery supplying the heart muscle	Cardiology
LAD territory	left anterior descending artery (territory)	Front heart wall supplied by the LAD — descriptor	Cardiology
LBBB	left bundle branch block	Blocked electrical pathway to the left lower chamber	Cardiology
LCx	left circumflex artery	Artery wrapping around the left side of the heart	Cardiology
LDL	low-density lipoprotein	The 'bad' cholesterol that builds up in artery walls	Cardiology Laboratory
leadless PPM	leadless pacemaker (device)	Self-contained capsule pacemaker	Cardiology
LHC	left heart catheterization	Catheter test of the left heart and its arteries	Cardiology
Lipids	lipid panel	Group of blood fat measurements	Laboratory Cardiology
LMCA	left main coronary artery	Short main artery that splits to supply the left heart	Cardiology
LMWH	low-molecular-weight heparin	Injectable blood thinner with predictable effect	Cardiology
Lp(a)	lipoprotein(a)	Inherited cholesterol particle measured in blood	Laboratory Cardiology
LQTS	long QT syndrome	Heart rhythm condition with a prolonged QT interval	Cardiology
LV	left ventricle	The heart's main pumping chamber	Cardiology
LV vent	left ventricular vent (ECMO/surgery)	Drain relieving heart pressure distension	Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology Surgery
LVAD	left ventricular assist device	Mechanical pump that helps the main pumping chamber	Cardiology Surgery
LVEF	left ventricular ejection fraction	Percentage of blood the main pumping chamber ejects per beat	Cardiology
LVH	left ventricular hypertrophy	Thickened wall of the main pumping chamber	Cardiology
LVNC	left ventricular noncompaction	Heart muscle condition with spongy, poorly compacted walls	Cardiology
MAP	mean arterial pressure	Average pressure in the arteries during one heartbeat cycle	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
MAPSE	mitral annular plane systolic excursion	Echo measure of left heart function	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
Marfan	Marfan syndrome (connective)	Tall stature connective tissue syndrome	Pediatrics Cardiology Musculoskeletal
MAT	multifocal atrial tachycardia	Fast upper-chamber rhythm with beats from several spots	Cardiology
MCOT	mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry	Continuously transmitted heart monitoring	Cardiology
mediastinum anatomy	mediastinum (anatomy)	Central chest compartment — anatomy	Respiratory Cardiology
MetS	metabolic syndrome	Cluster of conditions raising heart and diabetes risk	Endocrinology Cardiology
MI	myocardial infarction	Heart attack; death of heart muscle from blocked blood flow	Cardiology
micturition syncope	micturition syncope (situational)	Fainting during urination	Cardiology Neurology
MINOCA	myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries	Heart attack without a blocked artery found	Cardiology
MIS-C	multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (diagnosis)	Post-COVID inflammatory syndrome — diagnosis	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease Cardiology
mPAP	mean pulmonary artery pressure	Average pressure in the artery to the lungs	Cardiology Respiratory
MPI	myocardial perfusion imaging	Stress imaging of heart blood flow	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
MR	mitral regurgitation	Leaking of the mitral valve back into the upper chamber	Cardiology
MRA	magnetic resonance angiography	MRI scan used to image blood vessels	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
MS ⚠ Error-prone	mitral stenosis	Narrowing of the valve between the left upper and lower chambers	Cardiology
MUGA	multiple gated acquisition scan	Nuclear scan measuring heart pumping function	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
murmur grades	murmur grading (1-6 scale)	Loudness scale for heart murmurs	Pediatrics Cardiology Nursing
MVP	mitral valve prolapse	Mitral valve leaflets bulging back into the upper chamber	Cardiology
MVR	mitral valve replacement	Surgery to replace the mitral valve	Cardiology Surgery
NAS	no added salt	Meal prepared without extra salt	Nursing Cardiology
NOAC	novel oral anticoagulant	Earlier name for direct blood-thinning tablets	Cardiology Prescription & Medication Orders
Noonan	Noonan syndrome (genetic)	Short stature and heart defect genetic syndrome	Pediatrics Cardiology
Norwood	Norwood procedure (single ventricle)	First-stage surgery for hypoplastic left heart	Pediatrics Cardiology Surgery
NSR	normal sinus rhythm	Normal heartbeat controlled by the heart's natural pacemaker	Cardiology
NSTEMI	non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction	Heart attack without the full-blockage ECG pattern	Cardiology
NSVT	non-sustained ventricular tachycardia	Short run of fast lower-chamber rhythm that stops itself	Cardiology
NT-proBNP	N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide	Blood marker used to help assess heart failure	Cardiology Laboratory
NTG	nitroglycerin	Medicine that widens blood vessels to relieve chest pain	Cardiology
NYHA	New York Heart Association	Classification of how much heart failure limits activity	Cardiology
OAC	oral anticoagulant	Blood-thinning medicine taken by mouth	Cardiology
OESIL	Osservatorio Epidemiologico sulla Sincope nel Lazio score	Syncope risk score	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
OH	orthostatic hypotension (measurement)	Standing blood pressure drop — measurement	Neurology Cardiology Nursing
OHCA	out-of-hospital cardiac arrest	Cardiac arrest occurring outside a hospital	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
OM	obtuse marginal artery	Branch artery supplying the side of the heart	Cardiology
ORBIT	ORBIT bleeding score	Bleeding risk score in atrial fibrillation	Cardiology
PA	pulmonary artery	Main artery carrying blood from heart to lungs	Cardiology
PA cath	pulmonary artery catheter	Heart pressure monitoring catheter	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
PAC	premature atrial contraction	Extra early heartbeat from the upper chambers	Cardiology
PAC	pulmonary artery catheter	Catheter measuring pressures in the heart and lung artery	Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
PAD	peripheral arterial disease	Narrowing of arteries supplying the limbs	Cardiology
PAD	peripheral artery disease	Narrowed arteries, usually in the legs	Cardiology
PAH	pulmonary arterial hypertension	High lung artery pressure from diseased lung arteries themselves	Cardiology Respiratory
pallid spells	pallid breath-holding spells (vagal)	Pain-triggered pale fainting spells of toddlers	Pediatrics Neurology Cardiology
PAP	pulmonary artery pressure	Pressure in the artery carrying blood to the lungs	Cardiology Respiratory
PAPVR	partial anomalous pulmonary venous return	Some lung veins draining wrongly	Pediatrics Cardiology
PASP	pulmonary artery systolic pressure	Echo estimate of lung artery pressure	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
PAT	paroxysmal atrial tachycardia	Sudden episodes of fast rhythm from the upper chambers	Cardiology
PAVM	pulmonary arteriovenous malformation	Abnormal connection between artery and vein in the lung	Cardiology Respiratory
PAWP	pulmonary artery wedge pressure	Pressure measured with a catheter wedged in a lung artery	Cardiology Respiratory
PCI	percutaneous coronary intervention	Catheter procedure to open a narrowed heart artery	Cardiology
PCWP	pulmonary capillary wedge pressure	Pressure estimate in the left side of the heart via a lung catheter	Cardiology Respiratory
PDA	patent ductus arteriosus	Fetal blood vessel that stays open after birth	Cardiology Pediatrics
PDA	posterior descending artery	Artery supplying the back of the heart	Cardiology
PDA coronary	posterior descending artery (coronary)	Artery on the back underside of the heart	Cardiology
PE	pulmonary embolism	Blood clot that travels to and blocks a lung artery	Cardiology Respiratory
PEA	pulseless electrical activity	Heart electrical activity present but no pulse or pumping	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
PESI	Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index	Mortality risk score for pulmonary embolism	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
PFO	patent foramen ovale	Small flap opening between the upper chambers that did not close	Cardiology
PFO closure	patent foramen ovale closure (stroke)	Closing a heart hole after unexplained stroke	Neurology Cardiology Surgery
PGD	primary graft dysfunction	Early severe dysfunction of a transplanted organ	Cardiology Respiratory Surgery
PGE1	prostaglandin E1 (ductal therapy)	Infusion keeping the fetal channel open	Pediatrics Cardiology Prescription & Medication Orders Emergency & Critical Care
PH	pulmonary hypertension	High blood pressure in the lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
PHACE	PHACE syndrome (hemangioma association)	Large face hemangioma with other anomalies	Pediatrics Cardiology Neurology
pheo crisis	pheochromocytoma crisis (emergency)	Catecholamine surge emergency	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Cardiology
PIH	pregnancy-induced hypertension	High blood pressure caused by pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Cardiology
PLB	posterolateral branch (coronary)	Branch supplying the back-side heart wall	Cardiology
PMI	point of maximal impulse	Spot on the chest where the heartbeat is felt strongest	Cardiology
PND	paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea	Sudden night-time breathlessness that wakes a person	Cardiology Respiratory
Pompe	Pompe disease (glycogen storage II)	Muscle and heart glycogen disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Cardiology
POTS	postural orthostatic tachycardia (diagnosis)	Standing racing heart without pressure drop — diagnosis	Neurology Cardiology
PPCI	primary percutaneous coronary intervention	Emergency artery-opening procedure for heart attack	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
PPM	permanent pacemaker	Implanted device that keeps the heart beating at a safe rate	Cardiology
pre/post ductal	pre- and post-ductal saturations	Hand versus foot oxygen comparison in newborns	Pediatrics Cardiology Nursing
PS	pulmonary stenosis	Narrowing of the valve leading to the lungs	Cardiology
PSVT	paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia	Sudden episodes of fast rhythm from above the lower chambers	Cardiology
PTA	percutaneous transluminal angioplasty	Balloon opening of a narrowed vessel	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
PTCA	percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty	Balloon catheter procedure to widen a heart artery	Cardiology
PVC	premature ventricular contraction	Extra early heartbeat from the lower chambers	Cardiology
PVD	peripheral vascular disease	Disease of blood vessels outside the heart and brain	Cardiology
PVI	pulmonary vein isolation	Ablation procedure treating atrial fibrillation	Surgery Cardiology
PVR	pulmonary vascular resistance	Resistance the heart pumps against in the lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
PW	pulsed-wave Doppler	Doppler measuring flow at a specific depth	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
QTc	corrected QT interval	Heart recovery time on an ECG, adjusted for heart rate	Cardiology
RA	right atrium	Upper chamber receiving used blood from the body	Cardiology
radial art	radial artery	Forearm artery at the thumb-side wrist	General Medical Cardiology
RAP	right atrial pressure	Filling pressure of the right heart	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
RAS	renal artery stenosis	Narrowing of the artery supplying the kidney	Renal & Nephrology Cardiology
RBBB	right bundle branch block	Blocked electrical pathway to the right lower chamber	Cardiology
RCA	right coronary artery	Artery supplying the right side and bottom of the heart	Cardiology
RCA territory	right coronary artery (territory)	Bottom heart wall supplied by the RCA — descriptor	Cardiology
RCM	restrictive cardiomyopathy	Stiff heart muscle that cannot fill properly	Cardiology
RCRI	Revised Cardiac Risk Index	Preoperative cardiac risk score	Surgery Cardiology
RFA	radiofrequency ablation	Heat-based destruction of abnormal tissue or pathways	Surgery Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
rhabdomyoma cardiac	cardiac rhabdomyoma (tuberous marker)	Heart muscle tumor of newborns suggesting tuberous sclerosis	Pediatrics Cardiology Neurology
RHC	right heart catheterization	Catheter test measuring pressures in the right heart and lungs	Cardiology Respiratory
RHD	rheumatic heart disease	Heart valve damage following rheumatic fever	Cardiology
rheumatic fever	acute rheumatic fever (diagnosis)	Post-strep inflammatory disease — diagnosis	Pediatrics Cardiology Infectious Disease
ROSC	return of spontaneous circulation	Heartbeat and circulation restarting after cardiac arrest	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
ROSC care	post-ROSC care	Care bundle after return of circulation	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing Cardiology
RV	right ventricle	Chamber that pumps blood to the lungs	Cardiology
RVAD	right ventricular assist device	Mechanical pump that helps the chamber pumping to the lungs	Cardiology Surgery
RVH	right ventricular hypertrophy	Thickened wall of the chamber pumping to the lungs	Cardiology
S-ICD	subcutaneous ICD (device)	Under-skin shocking device without heart leads	Cardiology
S1	first heart sound	First heart sound, from the mitral and tricuspid valves closing	Cardiology
S2	second heart sound	Second heart sound, from the aortic and pulmonary valves closing	Cardiology
S3	third heart sound	Extra early filling sound sometimes heard in heart failure	Cardiology
S4	fourth heart sound	Extra late filling sound heard with a stiff ventricle	Cardiology
SA	sinoatrial	Relating to the heart's natural pacemaker node	Cardiology
SA node	sinoatrial node	Heart's natural pacemaker in the right atrium	Cardiology
SA node artery	sinoatrial nodal artery	Small artery feeding the heart's pacemaker	Cardiology
SAM	systolic anterior motion	Mitral valve leaflet moving toward outflow during contraction	Cardiology
SAMe-TT2R2	SAMe-TT2R2 score	Predicts good warfarin control in atrial fibrillation	Cardiology Prescription & Medication Orders
SAPT	single antiplatelet therapy	One antiplatelet medicine used alone	Cardiology Prescription & Medication Orders
SB	sinus bradycardia	Slow heartbeat that still starts from the natural pacemaker	Cardiology
SBP	systolic blood pressure	Top blood pressure number, when the heart beats	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
SCA	sudden cardiac arrest	Sudden loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
SCAD	spontaneous coronary artery dissection	Tear in a heart artery occurring without injury	Cardiology
SCD	sudden cardiac death	Unexpected death from a sudden loss of heart function	Cardiology
SCUF	slow continuous ultrafiltration	Fluid-only continuous removal	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
Septal	septal perforator (branch)	Small LAD branch into the heart wall divider	Cardiology
SGLT2i	sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor	Diabetes medicine class increasing sugar loss in urine	Prescription & Medication Orders Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology Cardiology
single ventricle	single ventricle physiology (term)	One pumping chamber supporting both circulations	Pediatrics Cardiology
situs inversus	situs inversus (organ reversal)	Mirror-image organ arrangement	Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
SSS	sick sinus syndrome	Faulty natural pacemaker causing slow or paused heartbeats	Cardiology
ST	sinus tachycardia	Fast heartbeat that still starts from the natural pacemaker	Cardiology
STEMI	ST-elevation myocardial infarction	Heart attack with a fully blocked artery pattern on ECG	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
sternotomy	median sternotomy (procedure)	Opening the breastbone for heart surgery	Cardiology Surgery
Still murmur	Still murmur (innocent)	Musical innocent murmur of childhood	Pediatrics Cardiology
strawberry tongue	strawberry tongue (sign)	Red bumpy tongue of scarlet fever and Kawasaki — sign	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
SV	stroke volume	Amount of blood pumped with one heartbeat	Cardiology
SVC	superior vena cava	Large vein bringing blood from the upper body to the heart	Cardiology
SVC anatomy	superior vena cava (anatomy)	Great vein returning upper body blood — anatomy	General Medical Cardiology
SVR	systemic vascular resistance	Resistance the heart pumps against in the body arteries	Cardiology
SVT	supraventricular tachycardia	Fast heart rhythm starting above the lower chambers	Cardiology
Swan	Swan-Ganz catheter (pulmonary artery)	Balloon catheter measuring heart pressures	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
syncope types	syncope (reflex/orthostatic/cardiac types)	Fainting classified by mechanism	Cardiology Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
TAA	thoracic aortic aneurysm	Bulging weak spot in the aorta in the chest	Cardiology Surgery
TACO	transfusion-associated circulatory overload	Fluid overload from transfusion	Hematology & Oncology Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
tandem	TandemHeart (percutaneous VAD)	External pump drawing blood across the heart	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
TAPSE	tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion	Echo measure of right heart function	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
TAPVC alt	total anomalous pulmonary venous connection	Alternate phrasing for anomalous lung vein drainage	Pediatrics Cardiology
TAPVR	total anomalous pulmonary venous return	Birth defect where all lung veins connect to the wrong side	Cardiology Pediatrics
TAVI	transcatheter aortic valve implantation	Catheter placement of a new aortic valve	Cardiology
TAVR	transcatheter aortic valve replacement	Valve replacement done through a catheter, without open surgery	Cardiology
TBI	toe-brachial index	Ratio comparing blood pressure at toe and arm	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
TDI	tissue Doppler imaging	Echo technique measuring heart muscle motion	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
TEE	transesophageal echocardiogram	Heart ultrasound done through the food pipe	Cardiology
TEE	transesophageal echocardiography	Heart ultrasound from the esophagus — imaging	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
telemetry box	telemetry transmitter (device)	Portable heart monitor box	Nursing Cardiology
telemetry unit	telemetry unit (monitored ward)	Ward with continuous heart monitoring	Nursing Cardiology
tet spell	tet spell (hypercyanotic episode)	Sudden blue episode in tetralogy	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
TEVAR	thoracic endovascular aortic repair	Stent-graft repair of a chest aorta aneurysm	Surgery Cardiology
TG	triglycerides	A type of fat measured in the blood	Cardiology Laboratory
TGA	transposition of the great arteries	Birth defect where the two main arteries are swapped	Cardiology Pediatrics
Thebesian	Thebesian veins (cardiac)	Tiny veins draining directly into heart chambers	Cardiology
tilt table	tilt table test (autonomic)	Upright tilt test for fainting — autonomic	Neurology Cardiology
TIMI	Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction	Scoring system for blood flow and risk in heart attack	Cardiology
TIMI	Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score	Risk score used in heart attack care	Cardiology
TOE	transoesophageal echocardiogram	Heart ultrasound from a probe in the food pipe	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
TOF	tetralogy of Fallot	Birth heart defect with four linked abnormalities	Cardiology Pediatrics
TR	tricuspid regurgitation	Leaking of the right-sided valve back into the upper chamber	Cardiology
Trop	troponin	Heart muscle protein tested when heart attack is suspected	Laboratory Cardiology
truncus	truncus arteriosus (defect)	Single great vessel leaving the heart	Pediatrics Cardiology
TTE	transthoracic echocardiogram	Heart ultrasound done through the chest wall	Cardiology
TVR	tricuspid valve replacement	Operation replacing the tricuspid heart valve	Surgery Cardiology
UA	unstable angina	Chest pain from reduced heart blood flow that is new or worsening	Cardiology
UFH	unfractionated heparin	Injectable blood thinner given in hospital, often by drip	Cardiology
uremic pericarditis	uremic pericarditis (dialysis indication)	Heart sac inflammation from uremia — indication	Renal & Nephrology Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
Valve repl	valve replacement	Operation replacing a diseased heart valve	Surgery Cardiology
vasovagal	vasovagal syncope (diagnosis)	Emotion or pain triggered faint — diagnosis	Cardiology Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
venous hum	venous hum (innocent sound)	Continuous neck vein murmur of childhood	Pediatrics Cardiology
VF	ventricular fibrillation	Chaotic lower-chamber rhythm that stops effective pumping	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
VGS	viridans group streptococci	Mouth strep species linked to endocarditis	Infectious Disease Laboratory Cardiology
VLU	venous leg ulcer	Sore on the leg related to poor vein circulation	Nursing Cardiology
VSD	ventricular septal defect	Hole in the wall between the lower heart chambers	Cardiology Pediatrics
VT	ventricular tachycardia	Fast heart rhythm starting in the lower chambers	Cardiology
VTE	venous thromboembolism	Blood clots in veins, including leg clots and lung clots	Cardiology
VTI	velocity time integral	Doppler measure used to calculate flow and stroke volume	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
Williams	Williams syndrome (genetic)	Friendly personality genetic syndrome with heart narrowing	Pediatrics Cardiology Neurology
WPW	Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome	Extra electrical pathway that can cause fast heart rhythms	Cardiology
WS	Williams syndrome	Genetic condition affecting development, learning and the heart	Pediatrics Cardiology

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

Cardiology Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet

AAA — abdominal aortic aneurysm

AAA repair — abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

ABI — ankle-brachial index

ABPI — ankle-brachial pressure index

ACE — angiotensin-converting enzyme

ACEI — angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor

ACLS — advanced cardiovascular life support

ACS — acute coronary syndrome

ACT — activated clotting time

acyanotic — acyanotic heart defects (group)

ADAPT — accelerated diagnostic protocol (chest pain)

Adeno — adenosine

AED — automated external defibrillator

AF — atrial fibrillation

AFL — atrial flutter

AI — aortic insufficiency

ALI — acute limb ischemia

Amio — amiodarone

Angio — angiography

Ao — aorta

Ao arch — aortic arch (anatomy)

ApoA1 — apolipoprotein A1

ApoB — apolipoprotein B

APOE — apolipoprotein E

AR — aortic regurgitation

ARB — angiotensin receptor blocker

ARNI — angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor

ARR — aldosterone-to-renin ratio

ARVC — arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

AS — aortic stenosis

ASA — acetylsalicylic acid

asc Ao — ascending aorta

ASD — atrial septal defect

ATRIA — ATRIA bleeding score

ATTR — transthyretin amyloidosis

AV — atrioventricular

AV canal — atrioventricular canal defect (complete)

AV node — atrioventricular node

AVB — atrioventricular block

AVR — aortic valve replacement

AVSD — atrioventricular septal defect

balloon pump — intra-aortic balloon pump (device)

BB — beta blocker

BBB — bundle branch block

BLS — basic life support

BMS — bare-metal stent

BNP — B-type natriuretic peptide

BP — blood pressure

BPM — beats per minute

BrS — Brugada syndrome

bruit — bruit (access examination)

BT shunt — Blalock-Taussig shunt (modified)

CABG — coronary artery bypass graft

CABG — coronary artery bypass grafting

CAD — coronary artery disease

CAD-RADS — coronary artery disease reporting system

carotid sinus — carotid sinus syncope (hypersensitivity)

carotid stent — carotid artery stenting

Cath — cardiac catheterization

CAV — cardiac allograft vasculopathy

CCA — common carotid artery

CCB — calcium channel blocker

CCHD — critical congenital heart disease

CCHD screen — critical congenital heart disease screening

CCS class — Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class

CCU — coronary care unit

CEA — carotid endarterectomy

CFA — common femoral artery

CHA2DS2-VASc — CHA2DS2-VASc score

channelopathy — channelopathy (ion channel group)

CHARGE — CHARGE syndrome (association)

CHB — complete heart block

CHD — congenital heart disease

CHD — coronary heart disease

CHF — congestive heart failure

Chol — cholesterol

CI — cardiac index

CICU — cardiac intensive care unit

CK — creatine kinase

CK-MB — creatine kinase MB fraction

CK-MB — creatine kinase-MB

CLI — critical limb ischemia

CLTI — chronic limb-threatening ischemia

CO — cardiac output

CoA — coarctation of the aorta

convulsive syncope — convulsive syncope (mimic)

cough syncope — cough syncope (situational)

CP — chest pain

CPET — cardiopulmonary exercise test

CPR — cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPVT — catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

CRT — cardiac resynchronization therapy

CRT-D — cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator

CRT-D device — cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (device)

CRT-P — cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker

cryptogenic — cryptogenic stroke (term)

CS anatomy — coronary sinus (anatomy)

CTA — computed tomography angiography

CTEPH — chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

cTn — cardiac troponin

cTnI — cardiac troponin I

cTnT — cardiac troponin T

CTPA — computed tomography pulmonary angiography

CV — cardiovascular

CVD — cardiovascular disease

CVP — central venous pressure

CVS — cardiovascular system

CW — continuous-wave Doppler

cyanotic — cyanotic heart defects (group)

daily weights — daily weights (order)

DAPT — dual antiplatelet therapy

DASH diet — Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet

DBP — diastolic blood pressure

DCM — dilated cardiomyopathy

DEB — drug-eluting balloon

defecation syncope — defecation syncope (situational)

Defib — defibrillation

delayed OH — delayed orthostatic hypotension

DES — drug-eluting stent

desc Ao — descending aorta

desquamation — desquamation (peeling phase)

Diag — diagonal branch (coronary)

Dig — digoxin

DiGeorge — DiGeorge syndrome (22q11)

DOAC — direct oral anticoagulant

Dobut — dobutamine

Doppler — Doppler ultrasound

DORV — double outlet right ventricle

ductal-dependent — ductal-dependent lesion (term)

DUS — duplex ultrasound

DVT — deep vein thrombosis

E/e' — E to e prime ratio

Ebstein — Ebstein anomaly (tricuspid)

ECD — endocardial cushion defect (AV canal)

ECG — electrocardiogram

Echo — echocardiogram

ECMO — extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

EDACS — Emergency Department Assessment of Chest Pain Score

Edema grading — oedema grading

EF — ejection fraction

EHRA — European Heart Rhythm Association score

Eisenmenger — Eisenmenger syndrome (physiology)

EKG — electrocardiogram

EPS — electrophysiology study

ESUS — embolic stroke of undetermined source

ETT — exercise tolerance test

EVAR — endovascular aneurysm repair

event monitor — cardiac event monitor (device)

exercise challenge — exercise challenge test (bronchial)

FFR — fractional flow reserve

fluid restriction — fluid restriction (order)

Fontan — Fontan procedure (completion)

four-limb BP — four-extremity blood pressures (coarctation)

Glenn — Glenn procedure (bidirectional)

GLS — global longitudinal strain

GRACE — Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score

GTN — glyceryl trinitrate

HAS-BLED — HAS-BLED score

HCM — hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

HCTZ — hydrochlorothiazide

HDL — high-density lipoprotein

HEART — HEART score

HEART pathway — HEART Pathway

HEART score — HEART score (chest pain)

HEMORR2HAGES — HEMORR2HAGES score

heterotaxy — heterotaxy (organ arrangement)

HF — heart failure

HFmrEF — heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction

HFpEF — heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

HFrEF — heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

HLHS — hypoplastic left heart syndrome

HOCM — hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Holter — Holter monitor (device)

HR — heart rate

hs-CRP — high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

HTN — hypertension

hyperkalemia management — hyperkalemia management (ECG)

hyperoxia test — hyperoxia test (newborn cyanosis)

IABP — intra-aortic balloon pump

ICA — internal carotid artery

ICD — implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

ICD device — implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (device)

ICE — intracardiac echocardiography

IE — infective endocarditis

IHCA — in-hospital cardiac arrest

IHD — ischemic heart disease

ILR — implantable loop recorder (device)

incomplete Kawasaki — incomplete Kawasaki disease (term)

initial OH — initial orthostatic hypotension

innocent murmur — innocent murmur (term)

interrupted arch — interrupted aortic arch (defect)

introducer — introducer sheath (device)

ISDN — isosorbide dinitrate

ISMN — isosorbide mononitrate

IVC — inferior vena cava

IVC anatomy — inferior vena cava (anatomy)

IVC collapsibility — inferior vena cava collapsibility

IVCD — intraventricular conduction delay

IVUS — intravascular ultrasound

Jones criteria rheum — Jones criteria (rheumatic fever)

JVD — jugular venous distension

JVP — jugular venous pressure

Kawasaki — Kawasaki disease (diagnosis)

KD — Kawasaki disease

LA — left atrium

LAAO — left atrial appendage occlusion

LAD — left anterior descending artery

LAD territory — left anterior descending artery (territory)

LBBB — left bundle branch block

LCx — left circumflex artery

LDL — low-density lipoprotein

leadless PPM — leadless pacemaker (device)

LHC — left heart catheterization

Lipids — lipid panel

LMCA — left main coronary artery

LMWH — low-molecular-weight heparin

Lp(a) — lipoprotein(a)

LQTS — long QT syndrome

LV — left ventricle

LV vent — left ventricular vent (ECMO/surgery)

LVAD — left ventricular assist device

LVEF — left ventricular ejection fraction

LVH — left ventricular hypertrophy

LVNC — left ventricular noncompaction

MAP — mean arterial pressure

MAPSE — mitral annular plane systolic excursion

Marfan — Marfan syndrome (connective)

MAT — multifocal atrial tachycardia

MCOT — mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry

mediastinum anatomy — mediastinum (anatomy)

MetS — metabolic syndrome

MI — myocardial infarction

micturition syncope — micturition syncope (situational)

MINOCA — myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries

MIS-C — multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (diagnosis)

mPAP — mean pulmonary artery pressure

MPI — myocardial perfusion imaging

MR — mitral regurgitation

MRA — magnetic resonance angiography

MS — mitral stenosis ⚠

MUGA — multiple gated acquisition scan

murmur grades — murmur grading (1-6 scale)

MVP — mitral valve prolapse

MVR — mitral valve replacement

NAS — no added salt

NOAC — novel oral anticoagulant

Noonan — Noonan syndrome (genetic)

Norwood — Norwood procedure (single ventricle)

NSR — normal sinus rhythm

NSTEMI — non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction

NSVT — non-sustained ventricular tachycardia

NT-proBNP — N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide

NTG — nitroglycerin

NYHA — New York Heart Association

OAC — oral anticoagulant

OESIL — Osservatorio Epidemiologico sulla Sincope nel Lazio score

OH — orthostatic hypotension (measurement)

OHCA — out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

OM — obtuse marginal artery

ORBIT — ORBIT bleeding score

PA — pulmonary artery

PA cath — pulmonary artery catheter

PAC — premature atrial contraction

PAC — pulmonary artery catheter

PAD — peripheral arterial disease

PAD — peripheral artery disease

PAH — pulmonary arterial hypertension

pallid spells — pallid breath-holding spells (vagal)

PAP — pulmonary artery pressure

PAPVR — partial anomalous pulmonary venous return

PASP — pulmonary artery systolic pressure

PAT — paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

PAVM — pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

PAWP — pulmonary artery wedge pressure

PCI — percutaneous coronary intervention

PCWP — pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PDA — patent ductus arteriosus

PDA — posterior descending artery

PDA coronary — posterior descending artery (coronary)

PE — pulmonary embolism

PEA — pulseless electrical activity

PESI — Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index

PFO — patent foramen ovale

PFO closure — patent foramen ovale closure (stroke)

PGD — primary graft dysfunction

PGE1 — prostaglandin E1 (ductal therapy)

PH — pulmonary hypertension

PHACE — PHACE syndrome (hemangioma association)

pheo crisis — pheochromocytoma crisis (emergency)

PIH — pregnancy-induced hypertension

PLB — posterolateral branch (coronary)

PMI — point of maximal impulse

PND — paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Pompe — Pompe disease (glycogen storage II)

POTS — postural orthostatic tachycardia (diagnosis)

PPCI — primary percutaneous coronary intervention

PPM — permanent pacemaker

pre/post ductal — pre- and post-ductal saturations

PS — pulmonary stenosis

PSVT — paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

PTA — percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

PTCA — percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

PVC — premature ventricular contraction

PVD — peripheral vascular disease

PVI — pulmonary vein isolation

PVR — pulmonary vascular resistance

PW — pulsed-wave Doppler

QTc — corrected QT interval

RA — right atrium

radial art — radial artery

RAP — right atrial pressure

RAS — renal artery stenosis

RBBB — right bundle branch block

RCA — right coronary artery

RCA territory — right coronary artery (territory)

RCM — restrictive cardiomyopathy

RCRI — Revised Cardiac Risk Index

RFA — radiofrequency ablation

rhabdomyoma cardiac — cardiac rhabdomyoma (tuberous marker)

RHC — right heart catheterization

RHD — rheumatic heart disease

rheumatic fever — acute rheumatic fever (diagnosis)

ROSC — return of spontaneous circulation

ROSC care — post-ROSC care

RV — right ventricle

RVAD — right ventricular assist device

RVH — right ventricular hypertrophy

S-ICD — subcutaneous ICD (device)

S1 — first heart sound

S2 — second heart sound

S3 — third heart sound

S4 — fourth heart sound

SA — sinoatrial

SA node — sinoatrial node

SA node artery — sinoatrial nodal artery

SAM — systolic anterior motion

SAMe-TT2R2 — SAMe-TT2R2 score

SAPT — single antiplatelet therapy

SB — sinus bradycardia

SBP — systolic blood pressure

SCA — sudden cardiac arrest

SCAD — spontaneous coronary artery dissection

SCD — sudden cardiac death

SCUF — slow continuous ultrafiltration

Septal — septal perforator (branch)

SGLT2i — sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor

single ventricle — single ventricle physiology (term)

situs inversus — situs inversus (organ reversal)

SSS — sick sinus syndrome

ST — sinus tachycardia

STEMI — ST-elevation myocardial infarction

sternotomy — median sternotomy (procedure)

Still murmur — Still murmur (innocent)

strawberry tongue — strawberry tongue (sign)

SV — stroke volume

SVC — superior vena cava

SVC anatomy — superior vena cava (anatomy)

SVR — systemic vascular resistance

SVT — supraventricular tachycardia

Swan — Swan-Ganz catheter (pulmonary artery)

syncope types — syncope (reflex/orthostatic/cardiac types)

TAA — thoracic aortic aneurysm

TACO — transfusion-associated circulatory overload

tandem — TandemHeart (percutaneous VAD)

TAPSE — tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion

TAPVC alt — total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

TAPVR — total anomalous pulmonary venous return

TAVI — transcatheter aortic valve implantation

TAVR — transcatheter aortic valve replacement

TBI — toe-brachial index

TDI — tissue Doppler imaging

TEE — transesophageal echocardiogram

TEE — transesophageal echocardiography

telemetry box — telemetry transmitter (device)

telemetry unit — telemetry unit (monitored ward)

tet spell — tet spell (hypercyanotic episode)

TEVAR — thoracic endovascular aortic repair

TG — triglycerides

TGA — transposition of the great arteries

Thebesian — Thebesian veins (cardiac)

tilt table — tilt table test (autonomic)

TIMI — Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction

TIMI — Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score

TOE — transoesophageal echocardiogram

TOF — tetralogy of Fallot

TR — tricuspid regurgitation

Trop — troponin

truncus — truncus arteriosus (defect)

TTE — transthoracic echocardiogram

TVR — tricuspid valve replacement

UA — unstable angina

UFH — unfractionated heparin

uremic pericarditis — uremic pericarditis (dialysis indication)

Valve repl — valve replacement

vasovagal — vasovagal syncope (diagnosis)

venous hum — venous hum (innocent sound)

VF — ventricular fibrillation

VGS — viridans group streptococci

VLU — venous leg ulcer

VSD — ventricular septal defect

VT — ventricular tachycardia

VTE — venous thromboembolism

VTI — velocity time integral

Williams — Williams syndrome (genetic)

WPW — Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

WS — Williams syndrome

Printed from https://www.medicalvideos.com/medical-abbreviations/cardiology/ · Full searchable guide: https://www.medicalvideos.com/medical-abbreviations/ · Educational reference only — verify against your institution's approved list.

Cardiology Abbreviations

Cardiology Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

Medical Videos

Explore

Calculators

Company