Medical Abbreviations Starting With "S"

This page lists 501 medical abbreviations starting with "S", each with its full form and a plain-English meaning. Where one abbreviation has more than one common meaning, each meaning has its own row — context in the chart is what tells them apart. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists and should be written out in full. Use the filter box to narrow this list, the search on the main guide to search all 5,715 entries, or jump to another letter:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N 0–9 O P Q R T U V W X Y Z

Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
S-ICD	subcutaneous ICD (device)	Under-skin shocking device without heart leads	Cardiology
S/CO	signal-to-cutoff ratio	Immunoassay result scale for hepatitis and HIV screening	Laboratory Infectious Disease
S1	first heart sound	First heart sound, from the mitral and tricuspid valves closing	Cardiology
S100	S100 protein	Marker used in melanoma monitoring	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
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	septic arthritis	Infection inside a joint	Musculoskeletal Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
SA	short-acting	Medicine whose effect lasts a short time	Prescription & Medication Orders
SA	sinoatrial	Relating to the heart's natural pacemaker node	Cardiology
SA	suicide attempt	Self-harm act carried out with intent to die	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
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
SAB	single antigen bead (antibody test)	Detailed antibody identification test	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
SAB	spontaneous abortion	Medical term for a miscarriage	Obstetrics & Gynecology
SAB care	spontaneous abortion (care)	Miscarriage — care documentation	Obstetrics & Gynecology
SABA	short-acting beta-agonist (rescue)	Quick relief inhaler — rescue	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
SAC exam	Standardized Assessment of Concussion	Mental status part of concussion tools	Pediatrics Neurology
sacral neuromod	sacral neuromodulation (procedure)	Implanted bladder-control stimulator	Surgery Renal & Nephrology Gastroenterology
sacral plexus	sacral plexus (anatomy)	Nerve network supplying the back leg and pelvis	Neurology Obstetrics & Gynecology
sacrocolpopexy	sacrocolpopexy (prolapse surgery)	Mesh lifting the vagina to the sacrum	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
sacrospinous	sacrospinous fixation (prolapse)	Stitching the vagina top to a pelvic ligament	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
SAD	seasonal affective disorder	Depression recurring at a particular season, usually winter	Psychiatry
SAD	social anxiety disorder	Intense fear of social situations and being judged	Psychiatry
SAD anxiety	separation anxiety disorder	Excessive separation fear disorder	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SAD PERSONS	SAD PERSONS scale	Older suicide risk mnemonic scale	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
SADI-S	single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve	Combined sleeve and bypass bariatric operation	Surgery Gastroenterology
SAE	serious adverse event	Unfavourable occurrence that is life-threatening, disabling or fatal	General Medical Prescription & Medication Orders
safe sleep	safe sleep (ABC guidance)	Alone, back, crib sleep safety guidance	Pediatrics Nursing
safe sleep ABCs	ABCs of safe sleep (alone back crib)	Safe sleep teaching acronym expansion	Pediatrics Nursing
safe storage meds	safe medication storage (up and away)	Locked out-of-reach medicine storage guidance	Pediatrics Nursing General Medical
safe transport	safe transport (discharge element)	Correct restraint use at discharge teaching	Pediatrics Nursing
safety plan	safety plan (suicide prevention)	Written coping and contact plan for suicidal urges	Psychiatry
SAH	subarachnoid hemorrhage	Bleeding into the space around the brain	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
salmon patch	salmon patch (nevus simplex)	Fading pink birthmark of newborns	Pediatrics
salt tabs	salt tablets (supplement)	Oral sodium for chronic low sodium	Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology Prescription & Medication Orders
salt-and-pepper	salt-and-pepper retinopathy (congenital rubella)	Eye finding of congenital rubella	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
salt-wasting	salt-wasting crisis (CAH)	Life-threatening salt loss in adrenal disorders	Pediatrics Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care
Salter	Salter-Harris classification (growth plate)	Growth plate fracture types — classification	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
SAM	systolic anterior motion	Mitral valve leaflet moving toward outflow during contraction	Cardiology
SAM nutrition	severe acute malnutrition (diagnosis)	Life-threatening childhood undernutrition	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
SAMe-TT2R2	SAMe-TT2R2 score	Predicts good warfarin control in atrial fibrillation	Cardiology Prescription & Medication Orders
SAMPLE	signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, past history, last intake, events	History mnemonic used in emergency assessment	Emergency & Critical Care
sandifer	Sandifer syndrome (reflux posturing)	Arching postures from reflux in infants	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Neurology
Sanfilippo	Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III)	Brain-predominant storage disease	Pediatrics Laboratory Neurology
SaO2	arterial oxygen saturation	Percentage of arterial hemoglobin carrying oxygen	Respiratory Laboratory
saphenous n	saphenous nerve	Inner leg skin nerve	Neurology Musculoskeletal
SAPS	SAPS (Simplified Acute Physiology Score)	ICU severity scoring system	Emergency & Critical Care
SAPS	simplified acute physiology score	Severity score used in intensive care	Emergency & Critical Care
SAPT	single antiplatelet therapy	One antiplatelet medicine used alone	Cardiology Prescription & Medication Orders
SARA	Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia	Ataxia severity scale	Neurology
SARI	serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor	Trazodone's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
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
SAS	Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale	Sedation score for ICU patients	Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment
SAS	saline antibiotic saline (flush sequence)	Flush sequence when no heparin is used	Nursing
SAS	Simpson-Angus Scale (parkinsonism)	Rating scale for drug-induced parkinsonism	Psychiatry Neurology
SASH	saline antibiotics saline heparin (flush sequence)	Line flushing sequence after IV antibiotics	Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders
SAT	spontaneous awakening trial	Daily pause of sedation to assess a patient in intensive care	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
SB	sinus bradycardia	Slow heartbeat that still starts from the natural pacemaker	Cardiology
SB	spina bifida	Birth defect where the spine does not close fully	Neurology Pediatrics
SB5	Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales 5	Intelligence test edition	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SBAR	situation, background, assessment, recommendation	Structured format for clinical handover communication	Nursing General Medical
SBIRT	screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment	Approach identifying and addressing substance use	Psychiatry General Medical
SBO	small bowel obstruction	Blockage of the small intestine	Gastroenterology Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
SBP	spontaneous bacterial peritonitis	Infection of abdominal fluid in liver disease	Gastroenterology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
SBP	systolic blood pressure	Top blood pressure number, when the heart beats	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
SBQ	single-question screen (substance)	One-item drug and alcohol screening approach	Psychiatry
SBRT	stereotactic body radiation therapy	Very precise high-dose radiation to a small target	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging
SBS	short bowel syndrome	Poor absorption after much of the intestine is removed	Gastroenterology
SBS child	short bowel syndrome (childhood)	Too little bowel after surgery — childhood	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Nursing
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
SC ⚠ Error-prone	subcutaneous	Under the skin, describing an injection route	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
SCA	spinocerebellar ataxia (group)	Inherited balance disorder family	Neurology
SCA	sudden cardiac arrest	Sudden loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
SCA	superior cerebellar artery	Artery feeding the top of the cerebellum	Neurology
SCAD	spontaneous coronary artery dissection	Tear in a heart artery occurring without injury	Cardiology
scald	scald burn (mechanism)	Hot liquid burn mechanism	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
scalp tenderness	scalp tenderness (symptom)	Sore scalp in artery inflammation	Neurology General Medical
SCAN team	suspected child abuse and neglect team	Hospital abuse evaluation team	Pediatrics
scaphoid	scaphoid fracture (wrist)	Wrist bone fracture risking bone death	Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
scar dehiscence	uterine scar dehiscence	Silent separation of a cesarean scar	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
SCARED	Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders	Parent and child anxiety screen	Psychiatry Pediatrics
scarlatiniform	scarlatiniform rash (sandpaper)	Sandpaper strep-like rash descriptor	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
scarlet fever	scarlet fever (diagnosis)	Strep rash illness — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SCAT	Sport Concussion Assessment Tool	Sideline concussion evaluation tool	Pediatrics Neurology Musculoskeletal
SCBU	special care baby unit	Unit for babies needing extra support	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology
SCC	squamous cell carcinoma	Cancer arising from flat surface cells	Hematology & Oncology
SCC Ag	squamous cell carcinoma antigen	Tumor marker for squamous cell cancers	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
SCCmec	staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec	Resistance gene cassette defining MRSA types	Laboratory Infectious Disease
SCD	sequential compression device	Inflating leg sleeves that aid circulation	Nursing Surgery
SCD	sickle cell disease	Inherited condition making red cells sickle-shaped	Hematology & Oncology
SCD	subjective cognitive decline	Self-perceived decline with normal testing	Neurology Psychiatry
SCD	sudden cardiac death	Unexpected death from a sudden loss of heart function	Cardiology
SCFE	slipped capital femoral epiphysis	Hip growth plate slip in adolescents	Musculoskeletal Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
scheduled med	scheduled medication	Medication given at fixed times	Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders
Schilling test	Schilling test (historical B12 absorption)	Older test for B12 absorption, now rarely used	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
schizoaffective	schizoaffective disorder (diagnosis)	Psychosis with major mood episodes — diagnosis	Psychiatry
schizophrenia	schizophrenia (diagnosis)	Psychosis with delusions and disorganization — diagnosis	Psychiatry
schizophreniform	schizophreniform disorder (diagnosis)	Schizophrenia-like illness of one to six months	Psychiatry
school refusal	school refusal (behavior term)	Anxiety-driven school avoidance	Psychiatry Pediatrics
Schwabach	Schwabach test (tuning fork)	Bone conduction compared with the examiner's	Neurology
SCI	sciatica	Pain travelling along the sciatic nerve	Neurology Musculoskeletal
SCI	spinal cord injury	Damage to the spinal cord	Emergency & Critical Care Neurology
sciatic n	sciatic nerve (anatomy)	Largest nerve, down the back of the leg	Neurology Musculoskeletal
SCIT	subcutaneous immunotherapy	Allergy injections building tolerance over time	General Medical
SCIWORA	spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality	Cord injury with normal imaging, classically in children	Pediatrics Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging
SCLC	small cell lung cancer	Fast-growing type of lung cancer	Respiratory Hematology & Oncology
scleral buckle	scleral buckle (retinal surgery)	Band around the eye repairing a detached retina	Surgery
SCM muscle	sternocleidomastoid (muscle)	Neck turning muscle — muscle	General Medical Musculoskeletal
SCN	special care nursery	Hospital unit for babies needing extra care but not intensive care	Pediatrics
scoliometer	scoliometer (trunk rotation measure)	Inclinometer measuring trunk rotation	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
scoliosis	adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (diagnosis)	Teen spinal curvature — diagnosis	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
SCORAD	Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (score)	Eczema extent and severity score	Pediatrics
Scotty dog	Scotty dog sign (pars defect imaging)	Dog-shaped vertebra appearance with a collar crack	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
SCQ	Social Communication Questionnaire	Autism screening questionnaire	Pediatrics Psychiatry
scrub the hub	scrub the hub (line practice)	Disinfecting a line connection before use	Pediatrics Nursing Infectious Disease
SCS	spinal cord stimulator (implant)	Device masking pain with electrical pulses	Surgery Neurology Musculoskeletal
SCUF	slow continuous ultrafiltration	Fluid-only continuous removal	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
SCV	subclavian vein	Vein under the collarbone used for central access	Emergency & Critical Care
SCZ	schizophrenia	Long-term condition affecting thinking, perception and behaviour	Psychiatry
SD	stable disease	Cancer neither shrinking nor growing on treatment	Hematology & Oncology
SD-FFP	solvent detergent-treated plasma	Pooled plasma treated to inactivate viruses	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
SDAI	Simplified Disease Activity Index	Rheumatoid arthritis activity score	Musculoskeletal
SDH	subdural hematoma	Blood collecting under the outer covering of the brain	Neurology
SDH child	subdural hematoma (infant evaluation)	Blood collection in abusive head trauma checks	Pediatrics Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
SDMT	Symbol Digit Modalities Test	Processing speed test used in MS	Neurology Psychiatry
SDP	single deepest pocket (fluid)	Ultrasound fluid measurement method	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
SDP	single donor platelets	Platelets collected from one donor	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
SDQ	Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire	Child behavior screening questionnaire	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SDR	selective dorsal rhizotomy	Nerve-root surgery reducing leg stiffness	Neurology Surgery Pediatrics
SDS	speech discrimination score (audiology)	Percentage of words repeated correctly	Neurology
SDU	step-down unit (abbreviation)	Intermediate care unit abbreviation	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
SE	status epilepticus	A prolonged seizure or seizures without recovery between	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
second impact	second impact syndrome (sports)	Catastrophic swelling after a repeat concussion	Pediatrics Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Musculoskeletal
secretin test	secretin stimulation test	Pancreatic function test	Laboratory Gastroenterology
Sed rate	sedimentation rate	How fast red cells settle, a sign of inflammation	Laboratory
seesaw	seesaw breathing (paradoxical)	Chest and belly moving oppositely in distress	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
SEGA	subependymal giant cell astrocytoma	Brain tumor of tuberous sclerosis	Pediatrics Neurology Hematology & Oncology
Segond	Segond fracture (knee avulsion)	Small knee avulsion linked to ACL tears	Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
seizure precautions	seizure precautions (order)	Bedside safety setup for seizure risk	Nursing Neurology
selective mutism	selective mutism (diagnosis)	Speaking only in some settings — diagnosis	Psychiatry Pediatrics
self-extubation	self-extubation (event)	Patient removing their own breathing tube	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
self-inflating bag	self-inflating bag (newborn)	Squeezing ventilation bag — newborn	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
Semont	Semont maneuver (BPPV treatment)	Liberatory repositioning maneuver	Neurology
sentinel bleed	sentinel hemorrhage (warning leak)	Small warning aneurysm leak before a major rupture	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
sentinel event	sentinel event (safety)	Serious unexpected safety event requiring review	Nursing General Medical
sentinel injury	sentinel injury (abuse marker)	Minor injury in a pre-mobile baby warning of abuse	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
sentinel node biopsy imaging	lymphoscintigraphy	Tracer mapping of the first draining lymph node	Radiology & Imaging Surgery Hematology & Oncology
SEP	somatosensory evoked potential	Afferent pathway electrical test	Neurology
sepsis workup infant	febrile infant evaluation (workup)	Testing a young febrile baby for serious infection	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
Septal	septal perforator (branch)	Small LAD branch into the heart wall divider	Cardiology
septic AB	septic abortion (term)	Infected miscarriage emergency	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
septic hip	septic arthritis (hip)	Infected hip joint in a child	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
septoplasty	septoplasty (procedure)	Straightening the nasal septum	Surgery
septum uterine	uterine septum (anomaly)	Wall dividing the womb cavity	Obstetrics & Gynecology
SERD	selective estrogen receptor degrader	Breast cancer hormone drug class	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
serial 7s	serial sevens (attention test)	Subtracting by seven testing attention	Psychiatry Neurology
serial casting	serial casting (contracture)	Repeated casts stretching a tight joint	Musculoskeletal Pediatrics Neurology
serial exams sepsis	serial physical examinations (sepsis strategy)	Watching well babies instead of automatic antibiotics	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Nursing
SERM	selective estrogen receptor modulator	Breast cancer hormone drug class, e.g. tamoxifen	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology Endocrinology
serotonin syndrome	serotonin syndrome (diagnosis)	Excess serotonin drug reaction — diagnosis	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
serum osmolality	serum osmolality (measured)	Direct measure of blood concentration	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology
serum tox	serum toxicology (panel)	Blood drug level panel	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
Sever	Sever disease (heel apophysitis)	Growing heel pain in active children	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
severe obesity child	severe obesity (childhood class)	Highest child weight category	Pediatrics Endocrinology
SF6	sulfur hexafluoride gas (retinal)	Short-acting gas bubble used in retinal surgery	Surgery
SFA	superficial femoral artery	Main thigh artery	General Medical Radiology & Imaging
SFEMG	single-fiber EMG (jitter)	Most sensitive myasthenia electrical test	Neurology
sFGR	selective fetal growth restriction	One twin growing poorly	Obstetrics & Gynecology
sFLC	serum free light chains	Blood measurement of antibody light chain fragments	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
SFN	small fiber neuropathy	Damage to small pain and temperature nerve fibres	Neurology
SFN abbrev	small fiber neuropathy (SFN abbreviation)	Tiny-fiber nerve disease — abbreviation	Neurology
SFU grade	Society for Fetal Urology grading	Kidney swelling grade system	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging
SG	specific gravity	Measure of urine concentration compared with water	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
SGA	second-generation antipsychotic	Newer class of antipsychotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
SGA	small for gestational age	Baby smaller than expected for pregnancy stage	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
SGA	supraglottic airway	Airway device placed above the voice box	Respiratory
SGA antipsychotic	second-generation antipsychotic (atypical)	Newer antipsychotic class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
SGA fetus	small for gestational age (fetal)	Fetus smaller than expected for its age	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
SGA/LGA chart	growth classification (birthweight)	Size-for-age labeling at birth	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology
SGF	slow graft function (transplant)	Sluggish early transplant function without dialysis	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
SGLT2i	sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor	Diabetes medicine class increasing sugar loss in urine	Prescription & Medication Orders Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology Cardiology
SH	social history	Record of lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol and occupation	General Medical
shade/sunscreen	sun protection counseling (bundle)	Shade, clothing and sunscreen guidance	Pediatrics Nursing
shagreen	shagreen patch (tuberous sclerosis)	Orange-peel back patch of tuberous sclerosis	Pediatrics Neurology
shaken baby	abusive head trauma (preferred term)	Inflicted shaking head injury	Pediatrics Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
shaken prevention	shaken baby prevention (education)	Caregiver education preventing abusive head injury	Pediatrics Nursing
shared psychotic	shared psychotic disorder (folie à deux)	Delusion shared with a close contact	Psychiatry
sharp FB	sharp object ingestion ()	Swallowed sharp object	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care
sharps count	sharps count (surgical)	Counting needles and blades in surgery	Nursing Surgery
shave biopsy	shave biopsy (procedure)	Thin surface skin sample	Surgery General Medical
SHBG	sex hormone-binding globulin	Blood protein carrying sex hormones	Endocrinology Laboratory
SI	suicidal ideation	Thoughts about suicide or of harming oneself	Psychiatry
SI fusion	sacroiliac joint fusion	Fusing the pelvis-to-spine joint for pain	Surgery Musculoskeletal
SIADH	syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion	Condition causing water retention and low blood sodium	Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology
SIB	self-injurious behavior	Self-harming behavior, also in developmental disorders	Psychiatry Pediatrics Neurology
SIB	Severe Impairment Battery (cognitive)	Test for advanced dementia cognition	Neurology Psychiatry
SIBO	small intestinal bacterial overgrowth	Excess bacteria growing in the small intestine	Gastroenterology
SIC	sepsis-induced coagulopathy score	Early coagulopathy score in sepsis	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology
SIDS	sudden infant death syndrome	Unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep	Pediatrics
sigmoid sinus	sigmoid sinus (venous)	S-curved vein channel behind the ear	Neurology
SIJ	sacroiliac joint	Joint between the spine base and the pelvis	Musculoskeletal
silent chest	silent chest (ominous sign)	No breath sounds in severe asthma — sign	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
silo	silo (gastroschisis staging)	Gradual bowel return pouch for gastroschisis	Pediatrics Surgery
simple prostatectomy	simple prostatectomy (BPH)	Removing the prostate's inner growth for blockage	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
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
single ventricle	single ventricle physiology (term)	One pumping chamber supporting both circulations	Pediatrics Cardiology
sinusitis child	acute bacterial sinusitis (childhood)	Persistent nasal infection of children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Respiratory
sinusoidal	sinusoidal pattern (fetal heart)	Smooth wave pattern linked to fetal anemia	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
SIP	spontaneous intestinal perforation	Bowel hole in premature babies without NEC	Pediatrics Surgery
SiPAP	SiPAP (sigh positive airway pressure)	Baby noninvasive breathing support mode	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
SIPS	Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes	Prodrome assessment interview	Psychiatry
SIRS	systemic inflammatory response syndrome	Whole-body inflammatory response criteria	Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
SIS procedure	saline infusion sonohysterography (procedure)	Fluid ultrasound of the womb cavity	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
Sistrunk	Sistrunk procedure (thyroglossal)	Removing the cyst with the hyoid center	Pediatrics Surgery
site marking	site marking (surgery)	Marking the correct surgical site beforehand	Nursing Surgery
sitter	constant observer (sitter)	Staff member watching a patient continuously	Nursing General Medical
situs inversus	situs inversus (organ reversal)	Mirror-image organ arrangement	Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
sixth nerve palsy	sixth nerve palsy (finding)	Inward-looking eye unable to move outward	Neurology
SJS	Stevens-Johnson syndrome	Severe drug reaction affecting skin and mucous membranes	Emergency & Critical Care
SK	seborrheic keratosis	Common harmless warty skin growth	General Medical
skeletal survey	skeletal survey (abuse)	Full bone X-ray series for injury evaluation	Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care
skeletal traction	skeletal traction (orthopedic)	Pin-and-weight bone pulling — orthopedic	Musculoskeletal Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
skew	skew deviation (eye finding)	Vertical eye misalignment suggesting brainstem stroke	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
skin barrier	skin barrier (ostomy wafer)	Adhesive wafer protecting skin around a stoma	Nursing
skin punch	skin punch biopsy (neuropathy)	Skin sample counting tiny nerve fibers	Neurology Laboratory
skin sparing mast	skin-sparing mastectomy	Breast removal preserving the skin envelope	Surgery Hematology & Oncology
skin-to-skin	skin-to-skin (kangaroo)	Baby held bare on a parent's chest — care	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Nursing
SL	sublingual	Under the tongue, describing a medicine route	Prescription & Medication Orders
SLAP	superior labral anterior to posterior lesion	Tear of the upper shoulder socket cartilage, front to back	Musculoskeletal
SLAP	superior labrum anterior-posterior tear	Tear of the shoulder socket cartilage rim	Musculoskeletal
SLAP repair	SLAP repair (labrum)	Repairing the shoulder socket's top rim	Surgery Musculoskeletal
slapped cheek	slapped cheek syndrome (parvovirus)	Bright red cheek rash illness	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SLD	specific learning disorder	Persistent difficulty learning reading, writing or maths skills	Psychiatry Pediatrics
SLE	systemic lupus erythematosus	Autoimmune disease affecting joints, skin, kidneys and other organs	Musculoskeletal Renal & Nephrology
SLED	sustained low-efficiency dialysis	Prolonged gentle dialysis used in intensive care	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology
SLEDAI	Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index	Lupus activity score	Musculoskeletal Renal & Nephrology
sleep positioners	sleep positioners (hazard warning)	Wedges warned against for infant sleep	Pediatrics
sleep sack	wearable blanket (sleep sack)	Zippered blanket replacing loose bedding	Pediatrics Nursing
sleep study child	polysomnography (childhood)	Overnight sleep study — childhood	Pediatrics Respiratory Neurology
sleeve	laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (shorthand)	Stomach-sleeve weight loss operation	Surgery Gastroenterology
sling male	male urethral sling	Sling supporting the male urethra for leakage	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
SLIT	sublingual immunotherapy	Allergy drops or tablets under the tongue building tolerance	General Medical
SLIT allergy	sublingual immunotherapy (allergy)	Under-tongue allergy desensitization	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
SLJ	Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome	Teen kneecap lower pole pain	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
SLN	sentinel lymph node	First node draining a tumor	Hematology & Oncology Surgery Radiology & Imaging
SLNB	sentinel lymph node biopsy	Sampling the first lymph node draining a tumour	Surgery Hematology & Oncology
SLP	speech-language pathologist	Clinician treating speech, language and swallowing	General Medical Neurology
SLP	speech-language pathology	Assessment and therapy for speech, language and swallowing	Pediatrics General Medical
SLR	straight leg raise (test)	Nerve root tension sign in back pain	Musculoskeletal Neurology Vitals & Assessment
SLR exercise	straight leg raise (exercise)	Leg-lifting rehabilitation exercise	Musculoskeletal Nursing
SLT	selective laser trabeculoplasty	Laser treatment lowering eye pressure in glaucoma	General Medical Surgery
SLUMS	Saint Louis University Mental Status (psych)	Cognitive screen — psychiatric use	Psychiatry Neurology
SM	semimembranosus (muscle)	Deep inner hamstring muscle	Musculoskeletal
SMA	spinal muscular atrophy	Inherited disease weakening muscles through motor nerve loss	Neurology Pediatrics
SMA anatomy	superior mesenteric artery (anatomy)	Artery feeding most of the intestines	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
SMA genetic	spinal muscular atrophy (genetic)	Motor neuron genetic disease of childhood	Pediatrics Neurology
small bowel resection	SBR (small bowel resection)	Removal of a segment of small intestine	Surgery Gastroenterology
small fiber	small fiber neuropathy (type)	Pain and temperature fiber nerve disease	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
SMBG	self-monitoring of blood glucose	Patient checking their own blood sugar	Endocrinology Nursing
SMG excision	submandibular gland excision	Removal of the under-jaw saliva gland	Surgery
SMI	serious mental illness	Mental illness that seriously interferes with daily functioning	Psychiatry
SMI	soft mist inhaler (device)	Slow-mist inhaler device	Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
SMILE	small incision lenticule extraction	Keyhole laser vision correction	General Medical Surgery
smoke alarms	smoke alarms (home safety)	Working alarm placement guidance	Pediatrics Nursing General Medical
smoke evacuation	smoke evacuation (surgical plume)	Removal of cautery smoke in the operating room	Nursing Surgery
smoke inhalation	smoke inhalation injury (diagnosis)	Airway and lung injury from fire smoke — diagnosis	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
SMR	sexual maturity rating (Tanner)	Puberty stage rating abbreviation	Pediatrics Endocrinology
SMR	submucous resection	Nasal septum straightening technique	General Medical Surgery
SMS	serotonin modulator and stimulator	Vortioxetine's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
SN	substantia nigra (anatomy)	Dopamine-producing brainstem region lost in Parkinson disease	Neurology
SNAP benefits	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (benefits)	Food assistance program referenced in care plans	General Medical Pediatrics
SNAP-IV	SNAP-IV (teacher/parent)	ADHD symptom rating — rater form	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SNAP-IV	Swanson Nolan and Pelham questionnaire	ADHD symptom rating scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SND	selective neck dissection	Removal of only at-risk node groups	Surgery Hematology & Oncology
SNHL	sensorineural hearing loss	Hearing loss from inner ear or nerve damage	General Medical
SNP	single nucleotide polymorphism	Single-letter variation in DNA	Laboratory
SNRI	serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor	Antidepressant medicine affecting serotonin and norepinephrine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
SNS feeder	supplemental nursing system	Tube-at-breast feeding supplementer	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Nursing
snuffbox	anatomic snuffbox (tenderness)	Thumb-side wrist hollow checked after falls	Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
SO	silicone oil (retinal tamponade)	Oil filling the eye after complex retinal repair	Surgery
SOAP	subjective, objective, assessment, plan	Structured format for clinical notes, from its section initials	General Medical Nursing
Soave	Soave procedure (pull-through)	Cuff-style Hirschsprung operation	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery
SOB	shortness of breath	Feeling of not getting enough air	Respiratory
social anxiety	social anxiety disorder (diagnosis)	Social fear disorder — diagnosis	Psychiatry
SOFA	Sequential Organ Failure Assessment	Score of organ function in critical illness	Emergency & Critical Care
soft bedding	soft bedding (sleep hazard)	Pillows and blankets as suffocation hazards	Pediatrics Nursing
soft restraints	soft restraints (limb holders)	Padded limb holders limiting movement	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
Sol	solution	Liquid mixture with a substance dissolved in it	Prescription & Medication Orders
soleus	soleus (deep calf muscle)	Deep calf muscle under the gastrocnemius	Musculoskeletal
somatization	somatic symptom disorder (diagnosis)	Distressing body symptoms with excess focus — diagnosis	Psychiatry
SOMI	sterno-occipital-mandibular immobilizer	Chin-and-chest neck brace	Musculoskeletal Surgery
SORA	sorafenib (chart shorthand)	Liver and kidney cancer pill shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
SORT	Surgical Outcome Risk Tool	Preoperative mortality prediction tool	Surgery
SpA	spondyloarthritis	Group of inflammatory arthritis diseases affecting spine and joints	Musculoskeletal
spa typing	staphylococcal protein A typing	MRSA strain typing method	Laboratory Infectious Disease
SPARI	serotonin partial agonist reuptake inhibitor	Vilazodone's antidepressant class	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
spastic CP	spastic cerebral palsy (type)	Stiff-movement cerebral palsy type	Pediatrics Neurology
spasticity	spasticity (management)	Velocity-dependent stiffness — management	Neurology Musculoskeletal Pediatrics
SPD	schizoid personality disorder	Detached loner pattern	Psychiatry
SPE	streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin	Strep toxin in scarlet fever and toxic shock	Infectious Disease Laboratory
specific phobia	specific phobia (diagnosis)	Focused fear disorder — diagnosis	Psychiatry
specimen label	specimen labeling (process)	Correct identification of surgical specimens	Nursing Surgery Laboratory
SPECT	single-photon emission computed tomography	Nuclear medicine scan of blood flow or function	Radiology & Imaging
speech surgery	pharyngeal flap surgery (speech)	Throat flap improving cleft speech	Pediatrics Surgery
spell	apnea spell (NICU charting)	Pause episode in NICU charting	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
SPEP	serum protein electrophoresis	Test separating blood proteins into bands	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
sPESI	simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index	Short version of the PE mortality score	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
SPF	sunscreen SPF (guidance)	Sun protection factor guidance	Pediatrics Nursing General Medical
SPGR	spoiled gradient recalled acquisition	Fast 3D MRI sequence	Radiology & Imaging
SPICA	spica casting (femur treatment)	Body cast treating young thigh fractures	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
spica cast	hip spica cast (immobilization)	Body cast for hip and thigh problems	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery Nursing
Spinal	spinal anesthesia	Numbing injection into the spinal fluid space	Surgery
spinal accessory n	cranial nerve XI (spinal accessory, anatomy)	Nerve to the neck and trapezius muscles	Neurology
spiral fracture concern	spiral fracture (mechanism concern)	Twisting fracture raising mechanism questions	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
spirometry child	spirometry (childhood)	Breathing test in children	Pediatrics Respiratory
SPK	simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant	Combined pancreas and kidney transplant operation	Surgery Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology
spKt/V	single-pool Kt/V (measure)	Standard dialysis dose calculation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
splenectomy open	open splenectomy	Spleen removal through an open incision	Surgery Hematology & Oncology
splenic art	splenic artery	Artery to the spleen	Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology
splint types	splints (sugar-tong/stirrup/volar types)	Common fracture splint shapes	Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
SPMS	secondary progressive multiple sclerosis	Multiple sclerosis that becomes steadily progressive after relapses	Neurology
SPN	superficial peroneal nerve	Outer lower-leg skin and muscle nerve	Neurology Musculoskeletal
SpO2	peripheral oxygen saturation	Oxygen level in blood measured by a finger sensor	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
spondylolisthesis	spondylolisthesis (slip)	Vertebra slipped forward	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
spondylolysis	spondylolysis (pars defect)	Stress crack of the spine arch	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
sponge count	sponge count (surgical)	Counting surgical sponges before closure	Nursing Surgery
spot film	spot image (fluoroscopy)	Single captured fluoroscopy image	Radiology & Imaging
spot sign	spot sign (CT bleeding)	Contrast leak predicting bleed growth on scan	Neurology Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care
SPTB	spontaneous preterm birth	Early birth following labor or membrane rupture	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
SQ ⚠ Error-prone	subcutaneous	Under the skin, describing an injection route	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
square wave	square wave test (line damping)	Flush test checking pressure line accuracy	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
SR	sustained release	Medicine released slowly over time	Prescription & Medication Orders
SRK	Sanders Retzlaff Kraff formula	Lens power calculation formula family	General Medical Surgery
SRL	sirolimus (transplant shorthand)	Immune-suppressing transplant drug	Prescription & Medication Orders Renal & Nephrology
SRNS	steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome	Nephrotic syndrome not responding to steroids	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology
SROM	spontaneous rupture of membranes	Natural breaking of the amniotic sac	Obstetrics & Gynecology
SROM	SROM (spontaneous rupture of membranes)	Waters breaking on their own — shorthand	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
SRP	scaling and root planing	Deep gum cleaning procedure	General Medical
SRS	Social Responsiveness Scale	Autism trait measure	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SRS	stereotactic radiosurgery	Single precise radiation treatment, often for brain lesions	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Neurology
SRS brain	stereotactic radiosurgery (brain)	Focused single-session radiation for brain lesions	Neurology Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology
SRS-2	Social Responsiveness Scale-2	Autism trait rating scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
SRSE	super-refractory status epilepticus	Status beyond 24 hours of anesthesia	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
SRT	speech reception threshold (audiology)	Softest speech level understood half the time	Neurology
SSA	Sjogren syndrome-related antigen A	Autoimmune target tested in Sjogren syndrome and lupus	Laboratory
SSB	Sjogren syndrome-related antigen B (La)	Autoimmune target tested alongside SSA in Sjogren syndrome	Laboratory
SSc	systemic sclerosis	Autoimmune disease causing skin thickening and organ scarring	Musculoskeletal
SSD	shaded surface display	Older 3D reconstruction technique	Radiology & Imaging
SSD	soft diet (surgical soft)	Easy-to-chew post-surgical diet	Nursing Surgery
SSD	somatic symptom disorder	Distressing physical symptoms with excessive related thoughts	Psychiatry
SSG	split skin graft	Thin layer of skin moved to cover a wound	Surgery
SSI	surgical site infection	Infection at the site of an operation	Surgery Infectious Disease
SSNHL	sudden sensorineural hearing loss	Rapid hearing loss in the inner ear	General Medical Emergency & Critical Care
SSNS	steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome	Nephrotic syndrome responding to steroids	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology
SSRI	selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor	Antidepressant medicine increasing serotonin availability	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
SSS	sick sinus syndrome	Faulty natural pacemaker causing slow or paused heartbeats	Cardiology
SSS	superior sagittal sinus	Main vein channel along the top of the skull	Neurology
SSSS	staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome	Toxin-caused skin peeling of young children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
SSTI	skin and soft tissue infection	Infection of skin and tissues beneath it	Infectious Disease Surgery
SSZ	sulfasalazine	Medicine used for inflammatory bowel and joint disease	Prescription & Medication Orders Musculoskeletal Gastroenterology
ST	semitendinosus (muscle)	Inner hamstring muscle and graft source	Musculoskeletal
ST	sinus tachycardia	Fast heartbeat that still starts from the natural pacemaker	Cardiology
staffing ratio	nurse-to-patient ratio	Number of patients assigned per nurse	Nursing General Medical
standard precautions	standard precautions (universal)	Baseline infection precautions for all patients	Nursing Infectious Disease
standing order	standing order (protocol)	Pre-authorized order nurses may apply	Nursing General Medical
Stanford V	Stanford V regimen	Shorter Hodgkin lymphoma chemotherapy program	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
stapedectomy	stapedectomy (procedure)	Replacing the stapes hearing bone	Surgery
stapedotomy	stapedotomy (small-hole stapes surgery)	Laser or drill opening in the stapes footplate	Surgery
STAT	immediately (statim)	Do it now — urgent order priority	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care General Medical
STAT	Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers	Interactive toddler autism screen	Pediatrics
STAT	statim	Immediately, at once	General Medical Prescription & Medication Orders
stat dose	stat dose (single immediate)	One dose to be given immediately	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
status asthmaticus	status asthmaticus (pediatric emergency)	Severe unrelenting asthma attack — pediatric	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Status epi	status epilepticus	Prolonged or repeated seizures without recovery	Emergency & Critical Care Neurology
status migrainosus	status migrainosus (prolonged migraine)	Migraine attack beyond 72 hours	Neurology
STD	sexually transmitted disease	Disease passed mainly through sexual contact	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology General Medical
stdKt/V	standard Kt/V (weekly measure)	Weekly dose measure for frequent dialysis	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
steal syndrome	dialysis access steal syndrome (diagnosis)	Hand starved by a greedy access — diagnosis	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
steal test	access occlusion test (steal)	Symptom change when the access is compressed	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
STEC	Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli	Type of E. coli that can cause bloody diarrhoea and kidney complications	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
STEC-HUS	Shiga toxin E. coli hemolytic uremic syndrome	Kidney failure syndrome after certain E. coli infection	Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Pediatrics
steeple sign	steeple sign (croup imaging)	Narrowed windpipe shape on a neck X-ray	Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Respiratory
STEMI	ST-elevation myocardial infarction	Heart attack with a fully blocked artery pattern on ECG	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
stent retriever	stent retriever (thrombectomy device)	Mesh device pulling out a brain clot	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
Step-by-Step	Step-by-Step approach (febrile infant)	European febrile infant risk approach	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
step-down	step-down unit (intermediate care)	Unit between intensive care and the ward	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
stepping reflex	stepping reflex (newborn)	Automatic walking movements of newborns	Pediatrics Neurology
sterile water papules	sterile water injections (back pain)	Small skin injections easing labor back pain	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
sternotomy	median sternotomy (procedure)	Opening the breastbone for heart surgery	Cardiology Surgery
steroid phobia	steroid phobia (caregiver concern)	Fear limiting eczema cream use	Pediatrics Psychiatry
steroid-free	steroid-free protocol (transplant)	Maintenance without prednisone	Renal & Nephrology Prescription & Medication Orders Surgery
stertor	stertor (snoring-like sound)	Low snoring airway sound from the nose and throat	Pediatrics Respiratory
sTfR	soluble transferrin receptor	Marker helping distinguish iron deficiency anemia	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
STI	sexually transmitted infection	Infection passed through sexual contact	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
Still murmur	Still murmur (innocent)	Musical innocent murmur of childhood	Pediatrics Cardiology
STIR	short tau inversion recovery	MRI sequence suppressing fat signal	Radiology & Imaging Musculoskeletal
stirrup splint	stirrup splint (ankle)	U-shaped ankle splint	Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
STN	subthalamic nucleus (anatomy)	Small deep brain structure targeted in DBS	Neurology
stoma rod	stoma rod (bridge)	Temporary support bar under a loop stoma	Surgery Nursing
stool lactoferrin	fecal lactoferrin	Marker of intestinal inflammation in stool	Laboratory Gastroenterology
STOP	surgical termination of pregnancy	Procedure-based ending of pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
STOP-Bang	STOP-Bang questionnaire	Sleep apnoea screening tool, from its question initials	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
STPD	schizotypal personality disorder	Personality pattern with odd beliefs and social discomfort	Psychiatry
STR	serologic transfusion reaction	New antibody found after transfusion without hemolysis	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
strabismus	strabismus (misalignment)	Eye misalignment	Pediatrics Surgery Neurology
strabismus surgery	strabismus surgery (eye muscle)	Operation aligning crossed eyes	Surgery Pediatrics
straight cath	straight catheterization (single)	One-time catheter insertion to drain or sample	Nursing Renal & Nephrology
straight sinus	straight sinus (venous)	Midline vein channel draining deep brain	Neurology
STRATIFY	STRATIFY fall risk tool	Fall prediction tool for older inpatients	Nursing Vitals & Assessment
strawberry mark	strawberry hemangioma (parent term)	Red raised baby birthmark — parent term	Pediatrics
strawberry tongue	strawberry tongue (sign)	Red bumpy tongue of scarlet fever and Kawasaki — sign	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Cardiology
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
Stroop	Stroop test (attention)	Color-word interference test	Neurology Psychiatry
STSG	split-thickness skin graft (procedure)	Thin skin graft for wound coverage	Surgery
stump pain	residual limb pain (stump)	Pain in the remaining limb after amputation	Neurology Surgery
stunting	stunting (height deficit term)	Chronic undernutrition shortness term	Pediatrics
Sturge-Weber	Sturge-Weber syndrome (vascular)	Facial birthmark with brain vessel abnormality	Pediatrics Neurology
stuttering	childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering)	Speech flow disorder	Pediatrics Psychiatry
stylet	stylet (intubation stiffener)	Shaping wire inside a breathing tube	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
SUA	single umbilical artery	Cord with one artery instead of two	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
subclavian art	subclavian artery	Artery passing under the collarbone	General Medical
subclavian caution	subclavian catheter (stenosis caution)	Under-collarbone line avoided in kidney patients	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
subglottic stenosis	subglottic stenosis (narrowing)	Narrowing below the voice box	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
submuscular plate	submuscular plating (pediatric femur)	Under-muscle plate for children's thigh fractures	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery
SubQ	subcutaneous	Under the skin, describing an injection route	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
sucrose	oral sucrose (infant pain)	Sweet solution calming babies during procedures	Pediatrics Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders
suction cath	suction catheter (device)	Tube clearing airway secretions	Nursing Respiratory
SUD	substance use disorder	Problematic pattern of substance use	Psychiatry
SUDEP	sudden unexpected death in epilepsy	Sudden unexplained death of a person with epilepsy	Neurology
SUFE	slipped upper femoral epiphysis (UK term)	British term for the hip slip	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
sugar water test	sucrose hemolysis test (historical)	Older screening test for PNH	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
sugar-tong	sugar-tong splint (forearm)	U-shaped forearm splint	Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
SUI	stress urinary incontinence	Leaking of urine with coughing, sneezing or exertion	Obstetrics & Gynecology Renal & Nephrology
suicide precautions	suicide precautions (observation)	Constant observation and environment checks for safety	Nursing Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
SUID	sudden unexpected infant death	Umbrella term for infant sleep deaths	Pediatrics
SUNA	short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks	Related brief headache with tearing or redness	Neurology
sunburn	sunburn (prevention)	Ultraviolet skin burn and prevention	Pediatrics Nursing
SUNCT	short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection	Brief severe one-sided headache with a red tearing eye	Neurology
sundowning	sundowning (term)	Evening worsening of confusion in dementia	Neurology Psychiatry Nursing
SUNI	sunitinib (chart shorthand)	Kidney cancer pill shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
superimposed PEC	superimposed preeclampsia	Preeclampsia added onto chronic hypertension	Obstetrics & Gynecology
supination	supination (return to back)	Turning a patient back onto their back	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
supine roll	supine roll test (BPPV)	Roll test for horizontal canal BPPV	Neurology
Supp	suppository	Solid medicine form inserted into rectum or vagina	Prescription & Medication Orders
supplementation	supplementation (feeding addition)	Adding formula or donor milk — feeding	Pediatrics Nursing Obstetrics & Gynecology
supracervical hyst	supracervical hysterectomy (subtotal)	Womb removal keeping the cervix	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
supracondylar	supracondylar humerus fracture (childhood)	Above-elbow fracture of childhood	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
suprapubic cath	suprapubic catheter placement	Bladder drain through the lower abdomen	Surgery Renal & Nephrology Nursing
suprapubic pressure	suprapubic pressure (maneuver)	Pressure above the pubic bone freeing a shoulder	Obstetrics & Gynecology Emergency & Critical Care
suprascapular n	suprascapular nerve	Nerve to the top shoulder muscles	Neurology Musculoskeletal
sural n	sural nerve (anatomy)	Calf skin nerve often biopsied or harvested	Neurology Musculoskeletal
surfactant	surfactant (replacement)	Lung-coating replacement for preterm babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
surrogate	surrogate decision maker	Person deciding for a patient who cannot decide	Nursing General Medical
Survanta	Survanta (beractant brand)	Cow-derived surfactant brand	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders
Susp	suspension	Liquid medicine with particles dispersed through it	Prescription & Medication Orders
SUV	standardized uptake value	Measure of tracer uptake on a PET scan	Radiology & Imaging
SUVmax	maximum standardized uptake value	Hottest uptake value in a lesion on PET	Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology
sux	sux (succinylcholine shorthand)	Very short paralyzing drug shorthand	Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
sux apnea	sux apnea (prolonged paralysis)	Extended paralysis from enzyme deficiency after succinylcholine	Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
SV	stroke volume	Amount of blood pumped with one heartbeat	Cardiology
SVC	slow vital capacity (measurement)	Gentle breathing volume measure	Respiratory Neurology
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
SVC syndrome	superior vena cava syndrome (oncology)	Face and arm swelling from a blocked chest vein — oncology	Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care
SVD	spontaneous vaginal delivery	Vaginal birth that occurs without surgical assistance	Obstetrics & Gynecology
svPPA	semantic variant primary progressive aphasia	Word-meaning loss dementia variant	Neurology Psychiatry
SVR	sustained virologic response	Cure endpoint after hepatitis C treatment	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
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
SW	social worker	Professional supporting patients' social and discharge needs	General Medical
swaddling	swaddling (sleep practice)	Wrapping a baby snugly for sleep	Pediatrics Nursing
Swan	Swan-Ganz catheter (pulmonary artery)	Balloon catheter measuring heart pressures	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
swan neck	swan neck deformity (finger)	S-curved finger deformity	Musculoskeletal
SWE	shear wave elastography	Ultrasound stiffness measurement, often for liver fibrosis	Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology
sweat test	sweat chloride test (CF)	Salt measurement confirming cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Laboratory Respiratory
SWEDD	scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit	Normal dopamine scan in apparent Parkinsonism	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
Sweet-Ease	Sweet-Ease (sucrose brand)	Infant sucrose solution brand	Pediatrics Nursing
Swenson	Swenson procedure (pull-through)	Full-thickness Hirschsprung operation	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery
SWI	susceptibility-weighted imaging	MRI sequence sensitive to blood products and veins	Radiology & Imaging Neurology
swim lessons	swim lessons (drowning prevention)	Formal lessons lowering drowning risk	Pediatrics Nursing
swirl sign	swirl sign (hematoma)	Swirled low density within a bleed	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
SWL	shock wave lithotripsy	Stone fragmentation using external shock waves	Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging Surgery
SWYC	Survey of Well-being of Young Children	Pediatric developmental and family screen	Pediatrics
Sx	symptoms	Problems a patient feels or reports	General Medical
SXT	trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (chart shorthand)	Combination antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Syme	Syme amputation (ankle)	Ankle-level amputation keeping the heel pad	Surgery
symmetric IUGR	symmetric growth restriction	Growth restriction affecting the whole body evenly	Obstetrics & Gynecology
Synagis	Synagis (palivizumab brand)	RSV antibody brand name	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders
syncope types	syncope (reflex/orthostatic/cardiac types)	Fainting classified by mechanism	Cardiology Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
Syr	syrup	Sweetened liquid form of medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders
syrup ipecac	syrup of ipecac (no longer recommended)	Obsolete vomiting inducer kept out of homes	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
SZ	seizure	Sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain	Neurology
SZA	schizoaffective disorder	Condition combining schizophrenia symptoms with mood episodes	Psychiatry
SZC	sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (binder)	Fast potassium binder powder	Renal & Nephrology Prescription & Medication Orders Emergency & Critical Care

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.

Medical Abbreviations Starting With "S"

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