Respiratory Abbreviations

This list collects 466 respiratory abbreviations — breathing and lung terms used in respiratory therapy, ventilation and chest medicine. 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.

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Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
6MWT	six-minute walk test	Test measuring how far a person walks in six minutes	Respiratory
A-a gradient	alveolar-arterial gradient	Difference between oxygen in the air sacs and in artery blood	Respiratory
AAT	alpha-1 antitrypsin	Protein that protects the lungs from enzyme damage	Respiratory Laboratory
AATD	alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency	Inherited lack of a lung-protective protein	Respiratory
ABG	arterial blood gas	Blood test from an artery measuring oxygen, carbon dioxide and acidity	Respiratory Laboratory
ABPA	allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis	Allergic lung reaction to a common fungus in the airways	Respiratory
accidental extubation	accidental extubation (event)	Unplanned tube removal by movement or care	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
acinus	acinus (pulmonary anatomy)	Smallest lung unit beyond the terminal bronchiole	Respiratory
ACQ	Asthma Control Questionnaire	Asthma control measure	Respiratory
ACT	Asthma Control Test	Asthma control questionnaire	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment Pediatrics
ACT child	Asthma Control Test (childhood version)	Asthma control questionnaire — version	Pediatrics Respiratory
adenotonsillectomy	adenotonsillectomy (procedure)	Tonsil and adenoid removal — procedure	Pediatrics Surgery Respiratory
AERD	aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease	Asthma and nasal polyps worsened by aspirin-like medicines	Respiratory
AFB	acid-fast bacilli	Bacteria, including TB, that hold a special stain in the lab	Respiratory Laboratory Infectious Disease
AHI	apnea-hypopnea index	Number of breathing pauses or reductions per hour of sleep	Respiratory
AHI child	apnea-hypopnea index (pediatric thresholds)	Sleep apnea event rate — pediatric	Pediatrics Respiratory
AIP	acute interstitial pneumonia	Rapid lung scarring illness resembling ARDS without a clear cause	Respiratory
airborne precautions	airborne precautions (isolation)	Negative-pressure room and fitted mask for airborne germs	Nursing Infectious Disease Respiratory
ALI	acute lung injury	Sudden lung damage causing low oxygen; older term related to ARDS	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Allen test	Allen's test	Hand test of collateral circulation before arterial sampling	Vitals & Assessment Respiratory
alveoli	alveoli (anatomy)	Tiny air sacs where gas exchange happens	Respiratory
aminophylline	aminophylline (asthma)	Older infusion bronchodilator — asthma	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
ANCA	antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody	Antibody linked to small-vessel vasculitis	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
Anti-GBM	anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody	Antibody attacking kidney and lung filters	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
apex lung	lung apex (anatomy)	Top tip of the lung	Respiratory
API	Asthma Predictive Index	Tool predicting asthma in wheezing toddlers	Pediatrics Respiratory
apnea prematurity	apnea of prematurity (diagnosis)	Breathing pauses of early birth	Pediatrics Respiratory
APRV	airway pressure release ventilation	Ventilator mode using long high-pressure phases with brief releases	Respiratory
AR	allergic rhinitis (nose)	Allergy-driven nasal inflammation — nose	General Medical Respiratory
ARDS	acute respiratory distress syndrome	Severe lung inflammation causing dangerous low oxygen levels	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
ARF	acute respiratory failure	Sudden failure of breathing or gas exchange	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
asthma action plan	asthma action plan (document)	Written zone-based asthma instructions	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
asthma child	childhood asthma (management)	Wheeze disease of childhood — management	Pediatrics Respiratory
ASV	adaptive servo-ventilation	Breathing machine adapting support to breathing pattern	Respiratory
atopic march	atopic march (progression)	Eczema to food allergy to asthma progression	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Respiratory
ATS/IDSA criteria	ATS/IDSA severe CAP criteria	Major and minor criteria for severe pneumonia	Respiratory Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
auto-PEEP	auto-PEEP (intrinsic PEEP)	Trapped pressure from incomplete emptying	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
awake intubation	awake intubation (technique)	Tube placement with numbing while the patient breathes	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory Surgery
BAL	bronchoalveolar lavage	Washing of a lung segment through a scope to collect samples	Respiratory
BAL procedure	bronchoalveolar lavage (procedure)	Washing the airways for samples — procedure	Respiratory Surgery
BCYE	buffered charcoal yeast extract agar	Culture medium for Legionella bacteria	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
BE	base excess	Measure of the base component of acid-base balance	Laboratory Respiratory
BiLevel	bilevel ventilation (APRV variant)	Two-level pressure ventilation mode	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
BiPAP	bilevel positive airway pressure	Breathing support with two different pressure levels	Respiratory
Blasto Ag	Blastomyces antigen	Test for blastomycosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
BLUE protocol	bedside lung ultrasound in emergency protocol	Lung ultrasound approach to acute breathlessness	Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
BODE	BODE index	COPD prognosis score from BMI, obstruction, dyspnea, exercise	Respiratory
BOS	bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome	Scarring airway form of chronic lung rejection	Respiratory Surgery
bougie	bougie (intubation introducer)	Flexible guide easing tube placement	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
BPD	bronchopulmonary dysplasia	Chronic lung disease of premature infants after oxygen and ventilation	Respiratory Pediatrics
BPF	bronchopleural fistula	Abnormal connection between an airway and the chest space around the lung	Respiratory
bronch biopsy	transbronchial biopsy	Sampling lung tissue through a bronchoscope	Respiratory Surgery
bronchiolitis	bronchiolitis (diagnosis)	Viral wheezing illness of babies — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
bronchomalacia	bronchomalacia (diagnosis)	Floppy large airways	Pediatrics Respiratory
bronchoprovocation	bronchoprovocation testing (challenge)	Airway reactivity challenge testing	Pediatrics Respiratory
BS	breath sounds	Sounds heard when listening to the lungs	Vitals & Assessment Respiratory
BTS/SIGN	British Thoracic Society asthma guidelines	UK asthma severity and management framework	Respiratory
bubble CPAP	bubble CPAP (system)	Water-seal baby CPAP — system	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
bullectomy	bullectomy (procedure)	Removing large air blisters from the lung	Respiratory Surgery
BURP	BURP (backward upward rightward pressure)	Laryngeal pressure improving the intubation view	Emergency & Critical Care Surgery Respiratory
BVM	bag-valve mask	Hand-squeezed bag giving breaths through a mask	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
cACT	childhood Asthma Control Test	Ages 4 to 11 asthma control questionnaire	Pediatrics Respiratory
caffeine citrate	caffeine citrate (apnea)	Stimulant preventing preterm apnea	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CAP	community-acquired pneumonia	Lung infection caught outside hospital	Respiratory Infectious Disease
capno	capnography (device)	Exhaled CO2 monitoring — device	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
carina	carina (anatomy)	Ridge where the windpipe splits	Respiratory
CAT	COPD Assessment Test	Questionnaire measuring how COPD affects daily life	Respiratory
CAT score	COPD Assessment Test	Symptom questionnaire for COPD	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
CDH	congenital diaphragmatic hernia	Birth defect where abdominal organs enter the chest through the diaphragm	Respiratory Pediatrics
CF	cystic fibrosis	Inherited disease causing thick mucus in lungs and gut	Respiratory
CFTR	CFTR gene (cystic fibrosis)	Salt channel gene of cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Laboratory Respiratory
CFTR	cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator	Gene and channel affected in cystic fibrosis	Laboratory Respiratory Pediatrics
CFTR modulator	CFTR modulator therapy	Channel-correcting cystic fibrosis drugs	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
Chest tube	chest drain	Tube draining air or fluid from around the lung	Surgery Respiratory
chest tube	tube thoracostomy (procedure)	Chest drain insertion	Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
choanal atresia	choanal atresia (diagnosis)	Blocked back of the nose at birth — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
CICO	can't intubate can't oxygenate (emergency)	Worst-case airway emergency declaration	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory Surgery
CLAD	chronic lung allograft dysfunction	Long-term decline after lung transplant	Respiratory Surgery
CLD	chronic lung disease (prematurity)	Lung disease of premature babies	Pediatrics Respiratory
CMV vent	controlled mechanical ventilation (mode)	Fully machine-controlled breathing mode	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CO2	carbon dioxide	Waste gas removed from the body by breathing	Respiratory
Cocci Ab	Coccidioides antibody	Test for valley fever	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
confirm placement	tube confirmation (waveform capnography)	Proving tube position by exhaled CO2	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
controller	controller therapy (asthma maintenance)	Daily preventive asthma treatment	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
COP	cryptogenic organizing pneumonia	Lung inflammation pattern with plugs in small airways, cause unknown	Respiratory
COPD	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Long-term lung disease causing airflow blockage and breathing difficulty	Respiratory
costophrenic	costophrenic angle (anatomy)	Corner where ribs meet diaphragm on X-ray	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
Cotton-Myer	Cotton-Myer grading (subglottic)	Airway narrowing grade scale	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
cough syncope	cough syncope (situational)	Fainting after hard coughing	Cardiology Neurology Respiratory
COVID-19	coronavirus disease 2019	Illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, often affecting the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
CPAP	continuous positive airway pressure	Machine keeping airways open with constant air pressure	Respiratory
CPAP trial	CPAP trial (weaning)	Low-support spontaneous breathing weaning test	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CPET	cardiopulmonary exercise test	Exercise test measuring heart and lung responses together	Cardiology Respiratory
crackles	crackles (sound)	Popping lung sounds	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
CRB-65	CRB-65 score	Community version of the pneumonia severity score	Respiratory Infectious Disease
cric	cricothyrotomy (procedure)	Emergency airway through the front of the neck	Emergency & Critical Care Surgery Respiratory
croup	laryngotracheitis (croup diagnosis)	Barky cough airway illness — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Crs	respiratory system compliance	Stiffness measure of lungs and chest together	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
cryobiopsy	cryobiopsy (transbronchial)	Frozen-probe lung tissue sampling	Respiratory Surgery
CSA	central sleep apnea	Pauses in breathing during sleep from reduced brain signals	Respiratory
CTEPH	chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension	High lung pressure caused by old blood clots in lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
CTPA	computed tomography pulmonary angiography	CT scan with contrast to look for lung artery clots	Cardiology Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
cuff leak	cuff leak test (extubation)	Air leak around the deflated tube cuff predicting airway swelling	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CURB-65	CURB-65 score	Pneumonia severity score, from its factor initials	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CWP	coal worker's pneumoconiosis	Lung scarring from long-term coal dust inhalation	Respiratory
CXR	chest X-ray	X-ray image of the chest, heart and lungs	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
CYFRA 21-1	cytokeratin 19 fragment	Lung cancer tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Respiratory
decortication	decortication (lung)	Peeling a restricting rind off the lung	Respiratory Surgery
desat	desaturation events (NICU monitoring)	Oxygen dips watched in preterm babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
diaphragm anatomy	diaphragm (muscle anatomy)	Main breathing muscle — anatomy	Respiratory General Medical
DIOS	distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (CF)	Bowel blockage in cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Respiratory
DIP	desquamative interstitial pneumonia	Lung scarring pattern linked mainly to smoking	Respiratory
DISE	drug-induced sleep endoscopy	Sedated airway examination for sleep apnea	Pediatrics Surgery Respiratory
distraction jaw	mandibular distraction osteogenesis	Lengthening a small jaw gradually	Pediatrics Surgery Respiratory
DL	direct laryngoscopy (technique)	Classic blade tube placement — technique	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
DLCO	diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide	Test of how well gases pass from lungs into blood	Respiratory
DLT	double-lumen tube	Breathing tube ventilating each lung separately	Surgery Respiratory
DO2	oxygen delivery	Amount of oxygen delivered to the tissues each minute	Respiratory
DOE	dyspnea on exertion	Breathlessness brought on by physical activity	Respiratory
DOPE	DOPE (tube deterioration mnemonic)	Displacement, obstruction, pneumothorax, equipment mnemonic	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
DOPES	DOPES (tube problem mnemonic)	Mnemonic for sudden deterioration in an intubated child: displaced tube, obstruction, pneumothorax, equipment, stomach	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
dP	driving pressure (plateau minus PEEP)	Pressure actually stretching the lung each breath	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
DPI	dry powder inhaler	Inhaler delivering medicine as a dry powder	Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
DR-TB	drug-resistant tuberculosis	TB resistant to one or more standard drugs	Infectious Disease Respiratory
drooling child	drooling (airway/ingestion sign)	Inability to swallow secretions — sign	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
droplet precautions	droplet precautions (isolation)	Mask for germs spread in large droplets	Nursing Infectious Disease Respiratory
DSI	delayed sequence intubation	Sedation first to allow oxygenation before tube placement	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
E cylinder	E cylinder (oxygen tank)	Standard portable oxygen bottle size	Respiratory Nursing
EBB	endobronchial biopsy	Sampling an airway lesion through a scope	Respiratory
EBUS	endobronchial ultrasound	Scope with ultrasound used to sample tissue near the airways	Respiratory
EBUS TBNA	endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration	Scope-ultrasound sampling of chest nodes	Respiratory Surgery Radiology & Imaging
ECMO	extracorporeal membrane oxygenation	Machine that oxygenates blood outside the body	Cardiology Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
EGPA	eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis	Blood vessel inflammation with asthma and high eosinophils	Respiratory
ELM	external laryngeal manipulation	Hand pressure on the neck improving the view	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
epiglottitis	acute epiglottitis (diagnosis)	Swollen airway flap emergency — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
episodic wheeze	episodic viral wheeze (pattern)	Wheeze only with colds pattern	Pediatrics Respiratory
ERV	expiratory reserve volume	Extra air that can be blown out after a normal breath out	Respiratory
ESS	Epworth Sleepiness Scale	Questionnaire scoring daytime sleepiness	Respiratory
ESS score	Epworth sleepiness scale	A questionnaire scoring daytime sleepiness	Neurology Vitals & Assessment Respiratory
ETA	endotracheal aspirate	Airway secretion sample from a breathing tube	Laboratory Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
EtCO2	end-tidal carbon dioxide	Carbon dioxide measured at the end of an exhaled breath	Respiratory
ETCO2 adapter	capnography adapter (device)	Sensor fitting measuring exhaled CO2	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
ETT	endotracheal tube	Tube placed through the mouth into the windpipe for breathing support	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
ETT depth	endotracheal tube depth (lip line)	Centimeter marking at the lips for tube position	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory Nursing
ETT holder	endotracheal tube holder (device)	Securement device for a breathing tube	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
exercise challenge	exercise challenge test (bronchial)	Running test provoking airway narrowing	Pediatrics Respiratory Cardiology
extubation failure	extubation failure (reintubation need)	Needing the tube back within days of removal	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
FEF	forced expiratory flow	Speed of air flow during a forced breath out	Respiratory
FeNO	fractional exhaled nitric oxide (inflammation)	Breath inflammation marker	Pediatrics Respiratory Laboratory
FEV1	forced expiratory volume in 1 second	Air blown out in the first second of a forced breath	Respiratory
FEV1/FVC	FEV1 to FVC ratio	Ratio used to detect narrowed airways on breathing tests	Respiratory
fiberoptic intubation	fiberoptic intubation (technique)	Scope-guided tube placement for difficult airways	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory Surgery
FiO2	fraction of inspired oxygen	Percentage of oxygen in the air a person breathes in	Respiratory
FiO2 setting	fraction of inspired oxygen (setting)	Oxygen percentage setting — setting	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
FRC	functional residual capacity	Air left in the lungs after a normal breath out	Respiratory
FVC	forced vital capacity	Total air blown out in one hard, full breath	Respiratory
GGO	ground-glass opacity (abbreviation)	Hazy increased lung density on CT	Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
GINA	Global Initiative for Asthma (control levels)	Asthma guideline control classification	Respiratory
glossoptosis	glossoptosis (tongue fallback)	Tongue falling back blocking the airway	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
GM	galactomannan	Aspergillus marker in blood or lung fluid	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
GOLD	Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease	International group setting COPD care standards	Respiratory
grunting	grunting (newborn distress sign)	Sound of a baby splinting its lungs open	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HAP	hospital-acquired pneumonia	Lung infection developing during a hospital stay	Respiratory Infectious Disease
HCAP	healthcare-associated pneumonia	Older term for pneumonia linked to healthcare exposure	Respiratory Infectious Disease
HCO3	bicarbonate	Main base in blood, part of acid-base balance	Laboratory Respiratory
head bobbing	head bobbing (distress sign)	Neck muscle breathing sign in babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
heliox	heliox (asthma/airway)	Helium-oxygen easing airway work	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HFJV	high-frequency jet ventilation	Pulsed jet ventilation for babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HFNC	high-flow nasal cannula	Heated, high-flow oxygen given through nasal prongs	Respiratory
HFOV	high-frequency oscillatory ventilation	Ventilator mode using very rapid tiny breaths	Respiratory
HFOV adult	high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (adult)	Tiny rapid breath ventilation — adult use	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HHHFNC	heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula	Full name of high-flow oxygen therapy	Pediatrics Respiratory
hilum	hilum (anatomy)	Root of the lung where vessels enter	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
Histo Ag	Histoplasma antigen	Urine or blood test for histoplasmosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
HME trach	heat moisture exchanger (trach)	Filter warming air for trach patients	Nursing Respiratory
hMPV	human metapneumovirus	Respiratory virus similar to RSV	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
HOB 30	head of bed thirty degrees	Semi-upright position reducing aspiration and lung infection risk	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
HP	hypersensitivity pneumonitis	Lung inflammation from an allergic reaction to inhaled particles	Respiratory
HPS	hepatopulmonary syndrome	Lung vessel widening causing low oxygen in liver disease	Gastroenterology Respiratory
HRCT	high-resolution computed tomography	Detailed CT scan used especially for lung tissue disease	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
HSAT	home sleep apnea test	Home recording test for sleep apnoea	Respiratory
HTX	hemothorax	Blood collecting in the chest space around the lung	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
hydrothorax PD	PD hydrothorax (leak complication)	Dialysis fluid leaking into the chest	Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
I:E	inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio (setting)	Breathing-in versus breathing-out time ratio	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
IC	inspiratory capacity	Maximum air that can be breathed in after a normal breath out	Respiratory
ICD	intercostal drain	Tube between the ribs draining the chest	Surgery Respiratory
ICS	inhaled corticosteroid (maintenance)	Daily inhaled steroid — maintenance	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
IgE	immunoglobulin E	Antibody involved in allergy	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
IGRA	interferon-gamma release assay	Blood test for tuberculosis infection	Respiratory Laboratory Infectious Disease
ILD	interstitial lung disease	Group of diseases causing scarring or inflammation of lung tissue	Respiratory
IMV	intermittent mandatory ventilation (mode)	Set breaths between spontaneous ones, older mode	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Inh	inhalation	Breathed in, describing a medicine route	Prescription & Medication Orders Respiratory
inhaled epi	inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO)	Inhaled lung vessel dilator used in place of nitric oxide	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
inline suction	closed suction catheter (inline)	Suction without disconnecting the ventilator	Nursing Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
inner cannula	inner cannula (trach)	Removable inner tube of a tracheostomy	Nursing Respiratory
iNO	inhaled nitric oxide (neonatal)	Lung vessel relaxing gas — neonatal	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
iNO adult	inhaled nitric oxide (adult ARDS)	Lung vessel relaxing gas — adult lung failure	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
INSURE	intubate surfactant extubate (technique)	Give surfactant then remove the tube quickly	Pediatrics Respiratory
intercostals	intercostal muscles (group)	Muscles between the ribs used in breathing	Respiratory Musculoskeletal
IPC	indwelling pleural catheter	Tunneled long-term chest drain	Respiratory Surgery
IPF	idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis	Progressive lung scarring with no known cause	Respiratory
IPPV	intermittent positive pressure ventilation	Machine-delivered positive pressure breaths	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
IRV	inspiratory reserve volume	Extra air that can be breathed in after a normal breath in	Respiratory
IS	incentive spirometer	Breathing device encouraging deep breaths	Nursing Respiratory
IVAC	infection-related ventilator-associated complication	Ventilator deterioration with signs of infection	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
jet neb	jet nebulizer (device)	Compressed-gas aerosol device	Respiratory Nursing
Kartagener	Kartagener syndrome (PCD)	Ciliary disorder with reversed organs	Pediatrics Respiratory
ketamine asthma	ketamine (bronchodilator adjunct)	Sedative with bronchodilating effect	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
Kussmaul	Kussmaul respirations (sign)	Deep fast breathing of acidosis — sign	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Respiratory
LABA	long-acting beta-agonist (maintenance)	Long bronchodilator — maintenance	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
LAM	lymphangioleiomyomatosis	Rare cystic lung disease mainly affecting women	Respiratory
laryngeal mask neonate	laryngeal mask airway (newborn size)	Supraglottic airway in newborn resuscitation	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
laryngomalacia	laryngomalacia (diagnosis)	Floppy voice box of babies — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
laryngospasm	laryngospasm (event)	Voice box closure event	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
lingula	lingula (anatomy)	Tongue-like part of the left upper lobe	Respiratory
liquid O2	liquid oxygen (home system)	Stored liquid oxygen supply	Respiratory
LISA	LISA (less invasive surfactant administration)	Thin-catheter surfactant without prolonged ventilation	Pediatrics Respiratory
LLL	left lower lobe (anatomy)	Bottom section of the left lung	Respiratory
LMA	laryngeal mask airway	Airway device sitting above the voice box to assist breathing	Respiratory
LMA unique	LMA (laryngeal mask, generic)	Supraglottic airway mask	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
LRT	lower respiratory tract	Air passages from the windpipe down into the lungs	Respiratory
LRTI	lower respiratory tract infection	Infection of the airways or lungs, such as bronchitis or pneumonia	Respiratory Infectious Disease
LTB	laryngotracheobronchitis	Croup; viral swelling of the voice box and windpipe in children	Respiratory Pediatrics
LTBI	latent tuberculosis infection	Dormant TB infection with no symptoms or spreading	Respiratory Infectious Disease
LTOT	long-term oxygen therapy	Daily home oxygen used for long periods	Respiratory
LTRA	leukotriene receptor antagonist (class)	Allergy-asthma tablet class	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
LUL	left upper lobe (anatomy)	Top section of the left lung	Respiratory
Lung-RADS	lung cancer screening reporting system	Standard categories for lung screening CT	Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
LUS	lung ultrasound	Ultrasound examination of the lungs	Radiology & Imaging Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
LVRS	lung volume reduction surgery	Removing diseased lung to improve breathing	Respiratory Surgery
MAC	Mycobacterium avium complex	Group of bacteria that can infect lungs, mainly in weak immunity	Respiratory Infectious Disease
mag asthma	magnesium sulfate (asthma infusion)	Bronchodilator infusion for severe asthma	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
mainstem	mainstem bronchus (anatomy)	First large airway into each lung	Respiratory
mAPI	modified Asthma Predictive Index	Refined toddler asthma prediction tool	Pediatrics Respiratory
MART child	maintenance and reliever therapy (child)	Single inhaler strategy — pediatric applicability	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
MAS	meconium aspiration syndrome	Newborn breathing problems from inhaling stained amniotic fluid	Respiratory Pediatrics
MDI	metered-dose inhaler	Handheld inhaler delivering measured puffs	Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
MDI spacer	spacer (inhaler chamber)	Holding chamber improving inhaler delivery	Nursing Respiratory Pediatrics
MDR-TB	multidrug-resistant tuberculosis	TB that does not respond to the two main TB medicines	Respiratory Infectious Disease
meconium ileus	meconium ileus (diagnosis)	Thick stool blocking a newborn's bowel — diagnosis	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Respiratory
mediastinoscopy	mediastinoscopy (procedure)	Scope examination behind the breastbone	Respiratory Surgery Hematology & Oncology
mediastinum anatomy	mediastinum (anatomy)	Central chest compartment — anatomy	Respiratory Cardiology
MERS	Middle East respiratory syndrome	Serious viral lung illness caused by a coronavirus	Respiratory Infectious Disease
MERS-CoV	Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus	Coronavirus causing severe respiratory illness	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
mesh neb	vibrating mesh nebulizer	Quiet electronic aerosol device	Respiratory Nursing
MinIP	minimum intensity projection	3D reconstruction showing darkest structures, used for airways	Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
MIST	minimally invasive surfactant therapy	Alternate name for thin-catheter surfactant	Pediatrics Respiratory
MMA	maxillomandibular advancement (sleep)	Jaw advancement surgery for sleep apnea	Surgery Respiratory
MMA surgery	maxillomandibular advancement	Jaw surgery advancing both jaws for sleep apnea	General Medical Surgery Respiratory
mMRC	modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale	Scale grading breathlessness from 0 to 4	Respiratory
MMV	mandatory minute ventilation (mode)	Mode guaranteeing a minute volume	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
mPAP	mean pulmonary artery pressure	Average pressure in the artery to the lungs	Cardiology Respiratory
MPE	malignant pleural effusion	Fluid around the lung caused by cancer	Respiratory Hematology & Oncology
MSLT	multiple sleep latency test	Daytime nap test measuring how fast someone falls asleep	Respiratory Neurology
MTB	Mycobacterium tuberculosis	The bacterium that causes tuberculosis	Respiratory Infectious Disease
MTW	multiple-trigger wheeze (pattern)	Wheeze with many triggers pattern	Pediatrics Respiratory
MV	mechanical ventilation	Breathing support provided by a ventilator machine	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
MVV	maximal voluntary ventilation	Most air a person can breathe in and out in a short effort	Respiratory
N95	N95 respirator	Fitted mask filtering airborne particles	Nursing Infectious Disease Respiratory
nasal flaring	nasal flaring (distress sign)	Nostrils widening with breathing effort	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
NAVA	neurally adjusted ventilatory assist	Diaphragm-signal triggered ventilation	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
NC	nasal cannula	Thin tube with prongs in the nostrils delivering oxygen	Respiratory
Neb	nebulizer	Device turning liquid medicine into a breathable mist	Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
nebulizer mask	nebulizer mask (device)	Mask delivering aerosol medicine	Nursing Respiratory
NIF	negative inspiratory force (monitoring)	Breathing strength measure — monitoring	Neurology Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
NIF wean	negative inspiratory force (weaning criterion)	Breathing strength threshold for weaning	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
NIPPV	nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation ()	Machine breaths through the nose	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
NIV	noninvasive ventilation	Breathing support through a mask, without a breathing tube	Respiratory
NIV asthma	noninvasive ventilation (asthma)	Mask support in severe asthma	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
NIV neonate	noninvasive ventilation (neonatal)	Breathing support without a tube — neonatal	Pediatrics Respiratory
NMB vent	neuromuscular blockade (ventilation adjunct)	Paralyzing medicines easing ventilation	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
NPPV	noninvasive positive pressure ventilation	Mask breathing support using positive air pressure	Respiratory
NRB	non-rebreather mask	Oxygen mask with a reservoir bag for high oxygen levels	Respiratory
NRDS	neonatal respiratory distress syndrome	Newborn breathing difficulty from immature lungs	Respiratory Pediatrics
NSCLC	non-small cell lung cancer	Most common group of lung cancers	Respiratory Hematology & Oncology
NSIP	nonspecific interstitial pneumonia	Pattern of lung inflammation and scarring on biopsy or scan	Respiratory
NTM	nontuberculous mycobacteria	Mycobacteria other than TB that can infect the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
O2	oxygen	Gas essential for the body's energy production	Respiratory
O2 concentrator	oxygen concentrator (device)	Machine making oxygen from room air	Respiratory Nursing
obturator	obturator (trach introducer)	Guide used when inserting a trach tube	Nursing Respiratory Surgery
ODI	oxygen desaturation index	Number of oxygen dips per hour during sleep	Respiratory
OHS	obesity hypoventilation syndrome	Under-breathing linked to obesity causing high carbon dioxide	Respiratory
OSA	obstructive sleep apnea	Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep from a blocked airway	Respiratory
OSA child	pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (diagnosis)	Sleep airway blockage in children — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
OSAHS	obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome	Full name for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome	Respiratory General Medical
PaCO2	partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood	Measure of carbon dioxide dissolved in artery blood	Respiratory Laboratory
PAH	pulmonary arterial hypertension	High lung artery pressure from diseased lung arteries themselves	Cardiology Respiratory
PaO2	partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood	Measure of oxygen dissolved in artery blood	Respiratory Laboratory
PAP	pulmonary alveolar proteinosis	Rare disease where protein fills the lung air sacs	Respiratory
PAP	pulmonary artery pressure	Pressure in the artery carrying blood to the lungs	Cardiology Respiratory
paroxysmal cough	paroxysmal coughing (pertussis stage)	Burst coughing stage of whooping cough	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
PASP	pulmonary artery systolic pressure	Echo estimate of lung artery pressure	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
PAV	proportional assist ventilation	Support proportional to patient effort	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
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
PC ventilator	pressure control (ventilation mode)	Ventilator mode delivering a set breath pressure	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
PCD	primary ciliary dyskinesia	Inherited disorder of airway cilia causing repeated infections	Respiratory
PCI	prophylactic cranial irradiation	Preventive brain radiation in some lung cancers	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
PCP	Pneumocystis pneumonia	Fungal lung infection seen mainly in weak immunity	Respiratory Infectious Disease
PCV	pressure-controlled ventilation	Ventilator mode delivering breaths to a set pressure	Respiratory
PCWP	pulmonary capillary wedge pressure	Pressure estimate in the left side of the heart via a lung catheter	Cardiology Respiratory
PE	pulmonary embolism	Blood clot that travels to and blocks a lung artery	Cardiology Respiratory
peak flow child	peak flow monitoring (childhood)	Home blow meter tracking — childhood	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
PEEP	positive end-expiratory pressure	Pressure kept in the lungs at the end of a breath on a ventilator	Respiratory
PEEP setting	positive end-expiratory pressure (setting)	End-breath pressure keeping lungs open — setting	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
PEF	peak expiratory flow	Fastest speed of a forced breath out	Respiratory
PEFR	peak expiratory flow rate	Fastest rate air can be blown out, measured with a peak flow meter	Respiratory
PERC	Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria	Criteria helping rule out lung clots in low-risk patients	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
percutaneous trach	percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy	Bedside neck airway created over a wire	Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
pertussis	pertussis (whooping cough diagnosis)	Whooping cough — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
PESI	Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index	Mortality risk score for pulmonary embolism	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
PFT	pulmonary function test	Breathing tests measuring how well the lungs work	Respiratory
PGD	primary graft dysfunction	Early severe dysfunction of a transplanted organ	Cardiology Respiratory Surgery
PH	pulmonary hypertension	High blood pressure in the lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
phrenic n	phrenic nerve (anatomy)	Nerve driving the diaphragm	Neurology Respiratory
Pierre Robin	Pierre Robin sequence (airway)	Small jaw, tongue fallback and cleft palate sequence	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
PIV	parainfluenza virus	Croup-causing respiratory virus group	Infectious Disease Respiratory Pediatrics Laboratory
PJP	Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia	Lung infection occurring mainly in people with weakened immunity	Infectious Disease Respiratory
pleura parietal	parietal pleura (anatomy)	Lining of the chest wall	Respiratory
pleura visceral	visceral pleura (anatomy)	Lining stuck to the lung surface	Respiratory
pleural cath	tunneled pleural catheter (procedure)	Long-term chest fluid drain placed for home use	Respiratory Surgery
pleurectomy	pleurectomy (procedure)	Removing part of the lung lining	Respiratory Surgery
pleurodesis chemical	chemical pleurodesis (procedure)	Sealing the lung lining to stop fluid returning	Respiratory Surgery
PLMS	periodic limb movements of sleep	Repeated leg movements during sleep	Neurology Respiratory
Pmean	mean airway pressure (measurement)	Average airway pressure over the cycle	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
PNA	pneumonia	Infection inflaming the air sacs of the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
PND	paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea	Sudden night-time breathlessness that wakes a person	Cardiology Respiratory
POC device	portable oxygen concentrator	Battery oxygen machine for travel	Respiratory
POGO	percentage of glottic opening (view score)	How much of the voice box opening is seen	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
post-tussive	post-tussive emesis (symptom)	Vomiting after coughing fits	Pediatrics Respiratory Gastroenterology
PPD	purified protein derivative	Substance used in the skin test for tuberculosis	Respiratory Infectious Disease
Ppeak	peak inspiratory pressure (measurement)	Highest pressure during a breath	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
PPHN	persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (diagnosis)	Failed circulation transition after birth — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Pplat	plateau pressure (measurement)	Pressure during a no-flow pause, reflecting lung stretch	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
PPV neonate	positive pressure ventilation (newborn)	Bag breaths for a newborn	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
PR3	proteinase 3 antibody	Antibody marker in granulomatosis with polyangiitis	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
ProGRP	pro-gastrin-releasing peptide	Small cell lung cancer marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Respiratory
prone vent	prone positioning (ventilation therapy)	Face-down positioning improving oxygen in lung failure	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
proning team	proning team (staffing)	Trained team turning ventilated patients face-down	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
PRVC	pressure-regulated volume control	Ventilator mode adjusting pressure to reach a set volume	Respiratory
PSG	polysomnography	Overnight sleep study recording breathing, oxygen and brain activity	Respiratory
PSI	Pneumonia Severity Index	Score estimating pneumonia illness severity	Respiratory
PSI2	Pneumonia Severity Index (Port score)	Detailed pneumonia mortality prediction score	Respiratory Infectious Disease
PSV	pressure support ventilation	Ventilator mode boosting each of the patient's own breaths	Respiratory
PTX	pneumothorax	Collapsed lung from air leaking into the chest space	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Pulse ox	pulse oximeter	Clip device measuring blood oxygen saturation	Vitals & Assessment Respiratory
PVAP	possible ventilator-associated pneumonia	Surveillance category combining ventilator deterioration and lab evidence	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
PVR	pulmonary vascular resistance	Resistance the heart pumps against in the lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
QFT	QuantiFERON-TB Gold	Blood test for tuberculosis infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
R	respirations	Breaths, counted per minute	Vitals & Assessment Respiratory
racemic epi	racemic epinephrine (croup)	Nebulized adrenaline for croup — treatment	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
RADS	reactive airways dysfunction syndrome	Asthma-like condition after a single high irritant exposure	Respiratory
RAM cannula	RAM cannula (interface)	Nasal interface for baby noninvasive support	Pediatrics Respiratory
RAS	restrictive allograft syndrome	Fibrotic form of chronic lung transplant dysfunction	Respiratory Surgery
Raw	airway resistance (measurement)	Opposition to air flow in the airways	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
RDI	respiratory disturbance index	Sleep breathing disturbances per hour, including arousals	Respiratory
RDS	respiratory distress syndrome	Breathing failure from immature or injured lungs, classically in newborns	Respiratory Pediatrics
reintubation	reintubation (event)	Replacing a breathing tube after failed removal	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
reliever	reliever therapy (asthma rescue)	Quick relief asthma treatment	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
retractions	retractions (distress sign)	Skin sucking in with breathing effort	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
RHC	right heart catheterization	Catheter test measuring pressures in the right heart and lungs	Cardiology Respiratory
RLL	right lower lobe (anatomy)	Bottom section of the right lung	Respiratory
RML	right middle lobe (anatomy)	Middle section of the right lung	Respiratory
RR	respiratory rate	Number of breaths per minute	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
RR setting	respiratory rate (ventilator setting)	Breaths-per-minute setting — ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
RR-TB	rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis	TB resistant to the key medicine rifampicin	Infectious Disease Respiratory
RSBI	rapid shallow breathing index	Breathing pattern score predicting weaning success	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
RSV	respiratory syncytial virus	Common virus causing airway and lung infections, especially in infants	Respiratory Infectious Disease
RT	respiratory therapist	Clinician specialising in breathing care	Respiratory
RT	respiratory therapy	Breathing treatments and airway care	Respiratory
RUL	right upper lobe (anatomy)	Top section of the right lung	Respiratory
RV	residual volume	Air remaining in the lungs after breathing out fully	Respiratory
RV	rhinovirus	Main cause of the common cold	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
SABA	short-acting beta-agonist (rescue)	Quick relief inhaler — rescue	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
SaO2	arterial oxygen saturation	Percentage of arterial hemoglobin carrying oxygen	Respiratory Laboratory
SARS	severe acute respiratory syndrome	Serious viral lung illness caused by a coronavirus	Respiratory Infectious Disease
SARS-CoV-2	severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2	Coronavirus that causes COVID-19	Infectious Disease Respiratory
SBT	SBT (spontaneous breathing trial, shorthand)	Weaning trial shorthand	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
SBT	spontaneous breathing trial	Test of breathing without machine support in intensive care	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
SCLC	small cell lung cancer	Fast-growing type of lung cancer	Respiratory Hematology & Oncology
seesaw	seesaw breathing (paradoxical)	Chest and belly moving oppositely in distress	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
self-extubation	self-extubation (event)	Patient removing their own breathing tube	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
SGA	supraglottic airway	Airway device placed above the voice box	Respiratory
silent chest	silent chest (ominous sign)	No breath sounds in severe asthma — sign	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
SIMV	synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation	Ventilator mode mixing machine breaths with patient's own breaths	Respiratory
single breath count	single breath count test	Counting aloud on one breath estimating lung capacity	Neurology Respiratory
sinusitis child	acute bacterial sinusitis (childhood)	Persistent nasal infection of children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Respiratory
SiPAP	SiPAP (sigh positive airway pressure)	Baby noninvasive breathing support mode	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
sleep study child	polysomnography (childhood)	Overnight sleep study — childhood	Pediatrics Respiratory Neurology
SMART	single maintenance and reliever therapy ()	One-inhaler asthma strategy	Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
SMART-COP	SMART-COP score	Predicts need for intensive support in pneumonia	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
SMI	soft mist inhaler (device)	Slow-mist inhaler device	Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
smoke inhalation	smoke inhalation injury (diagnosis)	Airway and lung injury from fire smoke — diagnosis	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
SOB	shortness of breath	Feeling of not getting enough air	Respiratory
spell	apnea spell (NICU charting)	Pause episode in NICU charting	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
sPESI	simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index	Short version of the PE mortality score	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
spirometry child	spirometry (childhood)	Breathing test in children	Pediatrics Respiratory
SpO2	peripheral oxygen saturation	Oxygen level in blood measured by a finger sensor	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
status asthmaticus	status asthmaticus (pediatric emergency)	Severe unrelenting asthma attack — pediatric	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
steeple sign	steeple sign (croup imaging)	Narrowed windpipe shape on a neck X-ray	Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
stertor	stertor (snoring-like sound)	Low snoring airway sound from the nose and throat	Pediatrics Respiratory
STOP-Bang	STOP-Bang questionnaire	Sleep apnoea screening tool, from its question initials	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
stridor	stridor (sound)	Harsh upper airway sound	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
stridor child	upper airway obstruction (stridor presentation)	Noisy breathing presentation	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
stylet	stylet (intubation stiffener)	Shaping wire inside a breathing tube	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
subglottic stenosis	subglottic stenosis (narrowing)	Narrowing below the voice box	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
suction cath	suction catheter (device)	Tube clearing airway secretions	Nursing Respiratory
supination	supination (return to back)	Turning a patient back onto their back	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
surfactant	surfactant (replacement)	Lung-coating replacement for preterm babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
SVC	slow vital capacity (measurement)	Gentle breathing volume measure	Respiratory Neurology
sweat test	sweat chloride test (CF)	Salt measurement confirming cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Laboratory Respiratory
T-piece	T-piece resuscitator (newborn device)	Controlled-pressure newborn breathing device	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
T-piece trial	T-piece trial (weaning)	Breathing unassisted through the tube as a weaning test	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
TB	tuberculosis	Bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
TBLB	transbronchial lung biopsy	Lung tissue sample taken through a scope across the airway wall	Respiratory
TCDB	turn, cough, deep breathe	Routine to keep lungs clear after surgery	Nursing Respiratory
TEF	tracheoesophageal fistula	Abnormal connection between the windpipe and food pipe	Respiratory Pediatrics
terbutaline	terbutaline (asthma infusion)	Injected bronchodilator for severe asthma	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
thoracentesis procedure	thoracentesis (procedure)	Needle drainage of chest fluid — procedure	Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
thoracotomy	thoracotomy (procedure)	Open chest operation	Respiratory Surgery
TLC	total lung capacity	Total air the lungs can hold after a full breath in	Respiratory
tonsil hypertrophy	adenotonsillar hypertrophy (obstruction)	Enlarged tonsils blocking sleep breathing	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
Trach	tracheostomy	Opening into the windpipe for breathing	Surgery Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
trach collar	tracheostomy collar (device)	Mask delivering oxygen over a trach	Nursing Respiratory
trach cuff	tracheostomy cuff (balloon)	Sealing balloon on a trach tube	Nursing Respiratory
tracheal tug	tracheal tug (distress sign)	Downward windpipe pull with each breath	Pediatrics Respiratory
tracheitis	bacterial tracheitis (diagnosis)	Infected windpipe emergency of children — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
tracheomalacia	tracheomalacia (diagnosis)	Floppy windpipe — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory
TRACK	Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids	Under-five asthma control questionnaire	Pediatrics Respiratory
TRALI	transfusion-related acute lung injury	Lung injury within hours of a blood transfusion	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology
TTN	transient tachypnea of the newborn	Temporary fast breathing in newborns from retained lung fluid	Respiratory Pediatrics
TTNA	transthoracic needle aspiration	Needle sample of lung tissue taken through the chest wall	Respiratory
UIP	usual interstitial pneumonia	Pattern of lung scarring typically seen in pulmonary fibrosis	Respiratory
UPPP	uvulopalatopharyngoplasty	Throat operation widening the airway for sleep apnoea	General Medical Surgery Respiratory
URI	upper respiratory infection	Infection of the nose, throat or sinuses, such as a cold	Respiratory Infectious Disease
URT	upper respiratory tract	Air passages from the nose down to the voice box	Respiratory
V/Q	ventilation-perfusion scan	Nuclear scan comparing air and blood flow in lungs	Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
V/Q scan	ventilation-perfusion scan	Scan comparing air flow and blood flow in the lungs	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
VAC	ventilator-associated condition	Surveillance category of worsening oxygenation on a ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VAE	ventilator-associated event	Surveillance term for deterioration on a ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
VAP	ventilator-associated pneumonia	Lung infection developing while on a breathing machine	Respiratory Infectious Disease
VATS	video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery	Chest surgery done through small cuts with a camera	Respiratory Surgery
VATS lobectomy	video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy	Keyhole lung lobe removal	Respiratory Surgery
VATS wedge	VATS wedge resection	Keyhole removal of a lung wedge	Respiratory Surgery
VBG	venous blood gas	Blood test from a vein measuring gases and acidity	Respiratory Laboratory
VC	vital capacity	Maximum air that can be breathed out after a full breath in	Respiratory
VC ventilator	volume control (ventilation mode)	Ventilator mode delivering a set breath volume	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VC wean	vital capacity (weaning criterion)	Breathing volume threshold for weaning	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VCV	volume-controlled ventilation	Ventilator mode delivering breaths to a set volume	Respiratory
Vd/Vt	dead space fraction (measurement)	Wasted ventilation proportion	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VE	minute ventilation	Total air breathed in one minute	Respiratory
VE setting	minute ventilation (measurement)	Total air moved per minute — measurement	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VEPTR	vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib	Rib-expanding device for chest and spine deformity	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery Respiratory
viral wheeze	viral-induced wheeze (preschool pattern)	Cold-triggered toddler wheeze pattern	Pediatrics Respiratory
VL	video laryngoscopy (technique)	Camera-blade tube placement	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
VO2	oxygen consumption	Amount of oxygen the body uses each minute	Respiratory
vocal cord dysfunction child	vocal cord paralysis (childhood)	Immobility of a baby's vocal cord	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
Vt	tidal volume	Amount of air moved in one breath	Respiratory
VT setting	tidal volume (ventilator setting)	Breath size setting — ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Westley	Westley croup score	Severity score for croup	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
wheeze	wheeze (sound)	Whistling lower airway sound	Pediatrics Respiratory
whoop	inspiratory whoop (pertussis sign)	Gasping sound after a coughing burst	Pediatrics Respiratory Infectious Disease
winter	Winter formula (compensation)	Expected breathing compensation in acidosis — formula	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Respiratory
WOB	work of breathing	Effort needed to breathe in and out	Respiratory
XDR-TB	extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis	TB resistant to most of the main TB medicines	Respiratory Infectious Disease
YEARS	YEARS criteria	Simplified PE diagnostic algorithm	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory

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.

Respiratory Abbreviations — MedicalVideos.com

6MWT — six-minute walk test

A-a gradient — alveolar-arterial gradient

AAT — alpha-1 antitrypsin

AATD — alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

ABG — arterial blood gas

ABPA — allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

accidental extubation — accidental extubation (event)

acinus — acinus (pulmonary anatomy)

ACQ — Asthma Control Questionnaire

ACT — Asthma Control Test

ACT child — Asthma Control Test (childhood version)

adenotonsillectomy — adenotonsillectomy (procedure)

AERD — aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease

AFB — acid-fast bacilli

AHI — apnea-hypopnea index

AHI child — apnea-hypopnea index (pediatric thresholds)

AIP — acute interstitial pneumonia

airborne precautions — airborne precautions (isolation)

ALI — acute lung injury

Allen test — Allen's test

alveoli — alveoli (anatomy)

aminophylline — aminophylline (asthma)

ANCA — antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

Anti-GBM — anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody

apex lung — lung apex (anatomy)

API — Asthma Predictive Index

apnea prematurity — apnea of prematurity (diagnosis)

APRV — airway pressure release ventilation

AR — allergic rhinitis (nose)

ARDS — acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF — acute respiratory failure

asthma action plan — asthma action plan (document)

asthma child — childhood asthma (management)

ASV — adaptive servo-ventilation

atopic march — atopic march (progression)

ATS/IDSA criteria — ATS/IDSA severe CAP criteria

auto-PEEP — auto-PEEP (intrinsic PEEP)

awake intubation — awake intubation (technique)

BAL — bronchoalveolar lavage

BAL procedure — bronchoalveolar lavage (procedure)

BCYE — buffered charcoal yeast extract agar

BE — base excess

BiLevel — bilevel ventilation (APRV variant)

BiPAP — bilevel positive airway pressure

Blasto Ag — Blastomyces antigen

BLUE protocol — bedside lung ultrasound in emergency protocol

BODE — BODE index

BOS — bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

bougie — bougie (intubation introducer)

BPD — bronchopulmonary dysplasia

BPF — bronchopleural fistula

bronch biopsy — transbronchial biopsy

bronchiolitis — bronchiolitis (diagnosis)

bronchomalacia — bronchomalacia (diagnosis)

bronchoprovocation — bronchoprovocation testing (challenge)

BS — breath sounds

BTS/SIGN — British Thoracic Society asthma guidelines

bubble CPAP — bubble CPAP (system)

bullectomy — bullectomy (procedure)

BURP — BURP (backward upward rightward pressure)

BVM — bag-valve mask

cACT — childhood Asthma Control Test

caffeine citrate — caffeine citrate (apnea)

CAP — community-acquired pneumonia

capno — capnography (device)

carina — carina (anatomy)

CAT — COPD Assessment Test

CAT score — COPD Assessment Test

CDH — congenital diaphragmatic hernia

CF — cystic fibrosis

CFTR — CFTR gene (cystic fibrosis)

CFTR — cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

CFTR modulator — CFTR modulator therapy

Chest tube — chest drain

chest tube — tube thoracostomy (procedure)

choanal atresia — choanal atresia (diagnosis)

CICO — can't intubate can't oxygenate (emergency)

CLAD — chronic lung allograft dysfunction

CLD — chronic lung disease (prematurity)

CMV vent — controlled mechanical ventilation (mode)

CO2 — carbon dioxide

Cocci Ab — Coccidioides antibody

confirm placement — tube confirmation (waveform capnography)

controller — controller therapy (asthma maintenance)

COP — cryptogenic organizing pneumonia

COPD — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

costophrenic — costophrenic angle (anatomy)

Cotton-Myer — Cotton-Myer grading (subglottic)

cough syncope — cough syncope (situational)

COVID-19 — coronavirus disease 2019

CPAP — continuous positive airway pressure

CPAP trial — CPAP trial (weaning)

CPET — cardiopulmonary exercise test

crackles — crackles (sound)

CRB-65 — CRB-65 score

cric — cricothyrotomy (procedure)

croup — laryngotracheitis (croup diagnosis)

Crs — respiratory system compliance

cryobiopsy — cryobiopsy (transbronchial)

CSA — central sleep apnea

CTEPH — chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

CTPA — computed tomography pulmonary angiography

cuff leak — cuff leak test (extubation)

CURB-65 — CURB-65 score

CWP — coal worker's pneumoconiosis

CXR — chest X-ray

CYFRA 21-1 — cytokeratin 19 fragment

decortication — decortication (lung)

desat — desaturation events (NICU monitoring)

diaphragm anatomy — diaphragm (muscle anatomy)

DIOS — distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (CF)

DIP — desquamative interstitial pneumonia

DISE — drug-induced sleep endoscopy

distraction jaw — mandibular distraction osteogenesis

DL — direct laryngoscopy (technique)

DLCO — diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide

DLT — double-lumen tube

DO2 — oxygen delivery

DOE — dyspnea on exertion

DOPE — DOPE (tube deterioration mnemonic)

DOPES — DOPES (tube problem mnemonic)

dP — driving pressure (plateau minus PEEP)

DPI — dry powder inhaler

DR-TB — drug-resistant tuberculosis

drooling child — drooling (airway/ingestion sign)

droplet precautions — droplet precautions (isolation)

DSI — delayed sequence intubation

E cylinder — E cylinder (oxygen tank)

EBB — endobronchial biopsy

EBUS — endobronchial ultrasound

EBUS TBNA — endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration

ECMO — extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

EGPA — eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

ELM — external laryngeal manipulation

epiglottitis — acute epiglottitis (diagnosis)

episodic wheeze — episodic viral wheeze (pattern)

ERV — expiratory reserve volume

ESS — Epworth Sleepiness Scale

ESS score — Epworth sleepiness scale

ETA — endotracheal aspirate

EtCO2 — end-tidal carbon dioxide

ETCO2 adapter — capnography adapter (device)

ETT — endotracheal tube

ETT depth — endotracheal tube depth (lip line)

ETT holder — endotracheal tube holder (device)

exercise challenge — exercise challenge test (bronchial)

extubation failure — extubation failure (reintubation need)

FEF — forced expiratory flow

FeNO — fractional exhaled nitric oxide (inflammation)

FEV1 — forced expiratory volume in 1 second

FEV1/FVC — FEV1 to FVC ratio

fiberoptic intubation — fiberoptic intubation (technique)

FiO2 — fraction of inspired oxygen

FiO2 setting — fraction of inspired oxygen (setting)

FRC — functional residual capacity

FVC — forced vital capacity

GGO — ground-glass opacity (abbreviation)

GINA — Global Initiative for Asthma (control levels)

glossoptosis — glossoptosis (tongue fallback)

GM — galactomannan

GOLD — Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

grunting — grunting (newborn distress sign)

HAP — hospital-acquired pneumonia

HCAP — healthcare-associated pneumonia

HCO3 — bicarbonate

head bobbing — head bobbing (distress sign)

heliox — heliox (asthma/airway)

HFJV — high-frequency jet ventilation

HFNC — high-flow nasal cannula

HFOV — high-frequency oscillatory ventilation

HFOV adult — high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (adult)

HHHFNC — heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula

hilum — hilum (anatomy)

Histo Ag — Histoplasma antigen

HME trach — heat moisture exchanger (trach)

hMPV — human metapneumovirus

HOB 30 — head of bed thirty degrees

HP — hypersensitivity pneumonitis

HPS — hepatopulmonary syndrome

HRCT — high-resolution computed tomography

HSAT — home sleep apnea test

HTX — hemothorax

hydrothorax PD — PD hydrothorax (leak complication)

I:E — inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio (setting)

IC — inspiratory capacity

ICD — intercostal drain

ICS — inhaled corticosteroid (maintenance)

IgE — immunoglobulin E

IGRA — interferon-gamma release assay

ILD — interstitial lung disease

IMV — intermittent mandatory ventilation (mode)

Inh — inhalation

inhaled epi — inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO)

inline suction — closed suction catheter (inline)

inner cannula — inner cannula (trach)

iNO — inhaled nitric oxide (neonatal)

iNO adult — inhaled nitric oxide (adult ARDS)

INSURE — intubate surfactant extubate (technique)

intercostals — intercostal muscles (group)

IPC — indwelling pleural catheter

IPF — idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

IPPV — intermittent positive pressure ventilation

IRV — inspiratory reserve volume

IS — incentive spirometer

IVAC — infection-related ventilator-associated complication

jet neb — jet nebulizer (device)

Kartagener — Kartagener syndrome (PCD)

ketamine asthma — ketamine (bronchodilator adjunct)

Kussmaul — Kussmaul respirations (sign)

LABA — long-acting beta-agonist (maintenance)

LAM — lymphangioleiomyomatosis

laryngeal mask neonate — laryngeal mask airway (newborn size)

laryngomalacia — laryngomalacia (diagnosis)

laryngospasm — laryngospasm (event)

lingula — lingula (anatomy)

liquid O2 — liquid oxygen (home system)

LISA — LISA (less invasive surfactant administration)

LLL — left lower lobe (anatomy)

LMA — laryngeal mask airway

LMA unique — LMA (laryngeal mask, generic)

LRT — lower respiratory tract

LRTI — lower respiratory tract infection

LTB — laryngotracheobronchitis

LTBI — latent tuberculosis infection

LTOT — long-term oxygen therapy

LTRA — leukotriene receptor antagonist (class)

LUL — left upper lobe (anatomy)

Lung-RADS — lung cancer screening reporting system

LUS — lung ultrasound

LVRS — lung volume reduction surgery

MAC — Mycobacterium avium complex

mag asthma — magnesium sulfate (asthma infusion)

mainstem — mainstem bronchus (anatomy)

mAPI — modified Asthma Predictive Index

MART child — maintenance and reliever therapy (child)

MAS — meconium aspiration syndrome

MDI — metered-dose inhaler

MDI spacer — spacer (inhaler chamber)

MDR-TB — multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

meconium ileus — meconium ileus (diagnosis)

mediastinoscopy — mediastinoscopy (procedure)

mediastinum anatomy — mediastinum (anatomy)

MERS — Middle East respiratory syndrome

MERS-CoV — Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

mesh neb — vibrating mesh nebulizer

MinIP — minimum intensity projection

MIST — minimally invasive surfactant therapy

MMA — maxillomandibular advancement (sleep)

MMA surgery — maxillomandibular advancement

mMRC — modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale

MMV — mandatory minute ventilation (mode)

mPAP — mean pulmonary artery pressure

MPE — malignant pleural effusion

MSLT — multiple sleep latency test

MTB — Mycobacterium tuberculosis

MTW — multiple-trigger wheeze (pattern)

MV — mechanical ventilation

MVV — maximal voluntary ventilation

N95 — N95 respirator

nasal flaring — nasal flaring (distress sign)

NAVA — neurally adjusted ventilatory assist

NC — nasal cannula

Neb — nebulizer

nebulizer mask — nebulizer mask (device)

NIF — negative inspiratory force (monitoring)

NIF wean — negative inspiratory force (weaning criterion)

NIPPV — nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation ()

NIV — noninvasive ventilation

NIV asthma — noninvasive ventilation (asthma)

NIV neonate — noninvasive ventilation (neonatal)

NMB vent — neuromuscular blockade (ventilation adjunct)

NPPV — noninvasive positive pressure ventilation

NRB — non-rebreather mask

NRDS — neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

NSCLC — non-small cell lung cancer

NSIP — nonspecific interstitial pneumonia

NTM — nontuberculous mycobacteria

O2 — oxygen

O2 concentrator — oxygen concentrator (device)

obturator — obturator (trach introducer)

ODI — oxygen desaturation index

OHS — obesity hypoventilation syndrome

OSA — obstructive sleep apnea

OSA child — pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (diagnosis)

OSAHS — obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

PaCO2 — partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood

PAH — pulmonary arterial hypertension

PaO2 — partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood

PAP — pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

PAP — pulmonary artery pressure

paroxysmal cough — paroxysmal coughing (pertussis stage)

PASP — pulmonary artery systolic pressure

PAV — proportional assist ventilation

PAVM — pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

PAWP — pulmonary artery wedge pressure

PC ventilator — pressure control (ventilation mode)

PCD — primary ciliary dyskinesia

PCI — prophylactic cranial irradiation

PCP — Pneumocystis pneumonia

PCV — pressure-controlled ventilation

PCWP — pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PE — pulmonary embolism

peak flow child — peak flow monitoring (childhood)

PEEP — positive end-expiratory pressure

PEEP setting — positive end-expiratory pressure (setting)

PEF — peak expiratory flow

PEFR — peak expiratory flow rate

PERC — Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria

percutaneous trach — percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy

pertussis — pertussis (whooping cough diagnosis)

PESI — Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index

PFT — pulmonary function test

PGD — primary graft dysfunction

PH — pulmonary hypertension

phrenic n — phrenic nerve (anatomy)

Pierre Robin — Pierre Robin sequence (airway)

PIV — parainfluenza virus

PJP — Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

pleura parietal — parietal pleura (anatomy)

pleura visceral — visceral pleura (anatomy)

pleural cath — tunneled pleural catheter (procedure)

pleurectomy — pleurectomy (procedure)

pleurodesis chemical — chemical pleurodesis (procedure)

PLMS — periodic limb movements of sleep

Pmean — mean airway pressure (measurement)

PNA — pneumonia

PND — paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

POC device — portable oxygen concentrator

POGO — percentage of glottic opening (view score)

post-tussive — post-tussive emesis (symptom)

PPD — purified protein derivative

Ppeak — peak inspiratory pressure (measurement)

PPHN — persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (diagnosis)

Pplat — plateau pressure (measurement)

PPV neonate — positive pressure ventilation (newborn)

PR3 — proteinase 3 antibody

ProGRP — pro-gastrin-releasing peptide

prone vent — prone positioning (ventilation therapy)

proning team — proning team (staffing)

PRVC — pressure-regulated volume control

PSG — polysomnography

PSI — Pneumonia Severity Index

PSI2 — Pneumonia Severity Index (Port score)

PSV — pressure support ventilation

PTX — pneumothorax

Pulse ox — pulse oximeter

PVAP — possible ventilator-associated pneumonia

PVR — pulmonary vascular resistance

QFT — QuantiFERON-TB Gold

R — respirations

racemic epi — racemic epinephrine (croup)

RADS — reactive airways dysfunction syndrome

RAM cannula — RAM cannula (interface)

RAS — restrictive allograft syndrome

Raw — airway resistance (measurement)

RDI — respiratory disturbance index

RDS — respiratory distress syndrome

reintubation — reintubation (event)

reliever — reliever therapy (asthma rescue)

retractions — retractions (distress sign)

RHC — right heart catheterization

RLL — right lower lobe (anatomy)

RML — right middle lobe (anatomy)

RR — respiratory rate

RR setting — respiratory rate (ventilator setting)

RR-TB — rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis

RSBI — rapid shallow breathing index

RSV — respiratory syncytial virus

RT — respiratory therapist

RT — respiratory therapy

RUL — right upper lobe (anatomy)

RV — residual volume

RV — rhinovirus

SABA — short-acting beta-agonist (rescue)

SaO2 — arterial oxygen saturation

SARS — severe acute respiratory syndrome

SARS-CoV-2 — severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

SBT — SBT (spontaneous breathing trial, shorthand)

SBT — spontaneous breathing trial

SCLC — small cell lung cancer

seesaw — seesaw breathing (paradoxical)

self-extubation — self-extubation (event)

SGA — supraglottic airway

silent chest — silent chest (ominous sign)

SIMV — synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation

single breath count — single breath count test

sinusitis child — acute bacterial sinusitis (childhood)

SiPAP — SiPAP (sigh positive airway pressure)

sleep study child — polysomnography (childhood)

SMART — single maintenance and reliever therapy ()

SMART-COP — SMART-COP score

SMI — soft mist inhaler (device)

smoke inhalation — smoke inhalation injury (diagnosis)

SOB — shortness of breath

spell — apnea spell (NICU charting)

sPESI — simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index

spirometry child — spirometry (childhood)

SpO2 — peripheral oxygen saturation

status asthmaticus — status asthmaticus (pediatric emergency)

steeple sign — steeple sign (croup imaging)

stertor — stertor (snoring-like sound)

STOP-Bang — STOP-Bang questionnaire

stridor — stridor (sound)

stridor child — upper airway obstruction (stridor presentation)

stylet — stylet (intubation stiffener)

subglottic stenosis — subglottic stenosis (narrowing)

suction cath — suction catheter (device)

supination — supination (return to back)

surfactant — surfactant (replacement)

SVC — slow vital capacity (measurement)

sweat test — sweat chloride test (CF)

T-piece — T-piece resuscitator (newborn device)

T-piece trial — T-piece trial (weaning)

TB — tuberculosis

TBLB — transbronchial lung biopsy

TCDB — turn, cough, deep breathe

TEF — tracheoesophageal fistula

terbutaline — terbutaline (asthma infusion)

thoracentesis procedure — thoracentesis (procedure)

thoracotomy — thoracotomy (procedure)

TLC — total lung capacity

tonsil hypertrophy — adenotonsillar hypertrophy (obstruction)

Trach — tracheostomy

trach collar — tracheostomy collar (device)

trach cuff — tracheostomy cuff (balloon)

tracheal tug — tracheal tug (distress sign)

tracheitis — bacterial tracheitis (diagnosis)

tracheomalacia — tracheomalacia (diagnosis)

TRACK — Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids

TRALI — transfusion-related acute lung injury

TTN — transient tachypnea of the newborn

TTNA — transthoracic needle aspiration

UIP — usual interstitial pneumonia

UPPP — uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

URI — upper respiratory infection

URT — upper respiratory tract

V/Q — ventilation-perfusion scan

V/Q scan — ventilation-perfusion scan

VAC — ventilator-associated condition

VAE — ventilator-associated event

VAP — ventilator-associated pneumonia

VATS — video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

VATS lobectomy — video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy

VATS wedge — VATS wedge resection

VBG — venous blood gas

VC — vital capacity

VC ventilator — volume control (ventilation mode)

VC wean — vital capacity (weaning criterion)

VCV — volume-controlled ventilation

Vd/Vt — dead space fraction (measurement)

VE — minute ventilation

VE setting — minute ventilation (measurement)

VEPTR — vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib

viral wheeze — viral-induced wheeze (preschool pattern)

VL — video laryngoscopy (technique)

VO2 — oxygen consumption

vocal cord dysfunction child — vocal cord paralysis (childhood)

Vt — tidal volume

VT setting — tidal volume (ventilator setting)

Westley — Westley croup score

wheeze — wheeze (sound)

whoop — inspiratory whoop (pertussis sign)

winter — Winter formula (compensation)

WOB — work of breathing

XDR-TB — extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

YEARS — YEARS criteria

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Respiratory Abbreviations

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