Medical Abbreviations Starting With "V"

This page lists 152 medical abbreviations starting with "V", 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 S T U W X Y Z

Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
V-Y flap	V-Y advancement flap	Triangular flap advancing into a defect	Surgery
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
VA	visual acuity	Sharpness of vision measured on a chart	General Medical Vitals & Assessment
VA shunt	ventriculoatrial shunt	Brain fluid diversion to the heart atrium	Surgery Neurology
VAC	ventilator-associated condition	Surveillance category of worsening oxygenation on a ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VAC	vincristine actinomycin D cyclophosphamide	Sarcoma chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
VACTERL	VACTERL association (birth defects)	Pattern of spine, anus, heart, windpipe, kidney and limb defects	Pediatrics
vacuum delivery	vacuum extraction (operative vaginal)	Cup-assisted vaginal birth	Obstetrics & Gynecology
VaD	vascular dementia	Dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain	Neurology Psychiatry
VAE	ventilator-associated event	Surveillance term for deterioration on a ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
VAERS	Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System	Vaccine safety reporting system	Pediatrics Infectious Disease General Medical
vagus anatomy	vagus nerve (anatomy)	Long cranial nerve to chest and gut — anatomy	Neurology Gastroenterology
VAIN	vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia	Precancerous vaginal change	Obstetrics & Gynecology
Valve repl	valve replacement	Operation replacing a diseased heart valve	Surgery Cardiology
VAN	vancomycin (chart shorthand)	Glycopeptide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
vanA	vanA gene	Gene conferring high-level vancomycin resistance in enterococci	Laboratory Infectious Disease
Vanc	vancomycin	Antibiotic medicine for serious resistant infections	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VAP	ventilator-associated pneumonia	Lung infection developing while on a breathing machine	Respiratory Infectious Disease
VAR	varicella vaccine	Vaccine protecting against chickenpox	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
variable decel	variable deceleration (fetal)	Abrupt heart dip of varying timing, usually cord pressure	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
varicella	varicella (chickenpox diagnosis)	Chickenpox — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
varicocelectomy	varicocelectomy (procedure)	Repair of enlarged scrotal veins	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
VAS	visual analogue scale	Line scale marking symptom severity	Vitals & Assessment
VAS pain	visual analog scale (pain)	Line-marking pain intensity measure	Vitals & Assessment Nursing
vas reversal	vasovasostomy (vasectomy reversal)	Rejoining the sperm tubes	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
vascular malformation group	vascular anomalies (classification group)	Birthmark vessel malformation grouping	Pediatrics Surgery Radiology & Imaging
vasectomy	vasectomy (procedure)	Male sterilization cutting the sperm tubes	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
Vaso	vasopressin	Hormone and medicine supporting blood pressure and water balance	Prescription & Medication Orders Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology
vasospasm	cerebral vasospasm (after SAH)	Delayed artery narrowing after bleeding	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
vasovagal	vasovagal syncope (diagnosis)	Emotion or pain triggered faint — diagnosis	Cardiology Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
VAT	vestibular autorotation test	Head-shake balance reflex test	Neurology
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
vault smear	vault smear (post-hysterectomy)	Screening smear of the vaginal vault	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
VBAC	vaginal birth after cesarean	Vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean birth	Obstetrics & Gynecology
VBAC attempt	VBAC attempt (TOLAC)	Trying labor after a previous cesarean	Obstetrics & Gynecology
VBAC score	VBAC success calculator (score)	Tool estimating vaginal birth chances after cesarean	Obstetrics & Gynecology
VBG	venous blood gas	Blood test from a vein measuring gases and acidity	Respiratory Laboratory
VBL	vinblastine (chart shorthand)	Plant-alkaloid chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
VBT	vertebral body tethering (growth modulation)	Flexible cord scoliosis surgery	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery
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
VCR	vincristine (chart shorthand)	Plant-alkaloid chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
VCUG proc	voiding cystourethrogram (procedure)	Bladder X-ray during urination — procedure	Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging Pediatrics
VCV	valacyclovir (chart shorthand)	Oral herpes antiviral shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
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
VDC	vincristine doxorubicin cyclophosphamide	Ewing sarcoma chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
VDRL	Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test	Blood screening test for syphilis	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VE	minute ventilation	Total air breathed in one minute	Respiratory
VE	vaginal examination	Internal examination to assess the cervix and labour progress	Obstetrics & Gynecology
VE setting	minute ventilation (measurement)	Total air moved per minute — measurement	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Veau	Veau classification (cleft palate)	Cleft palate severity classes	Pediatrics Surgery
VEEG	video EEG monitoring (diagnosis)	Simultaneous video and brain wave recording	Neurology
VeIP	vinblastine ifosfamide cisplatin	Testicular cancer salvage combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
velocardiofacial	velocardiofacial syndrome (22q11)	Alternate name for the 22q deletion syndrome	Pediatrics
VEN	venetoclax (chart shorthand)	BCL-2 blocker pill shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
venous hum	venous hum (innocent sound)	Continuous neck vein murmur of childhood	Pediatrics Cardiology
venous pressure access	dynamic venous pressure (access monitoring)	Dialysis machine pressure suggesting access narrowing	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
ventricle lat	lateral ventricle (anatomy)	Large fluid space inside each brain half	Neurology
VEO-IBD	very early onset inflammatory bowel disease	IBD before age six suggesting immune causes	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
VEP	visual evoked potential (test)	Visual pathway electrical test — test	Neurology
VEPTR	vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib	Rib-expanding device for chest and spine deformity	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery Respiratory
verbal fluency	verbal fluency test (cognitive)	Timed word-generation test	Neurology Psychiatry
verbal order	verbal order (VO)	Order given by voice and read back	Nursing General Medical
verruca	verruca vulgaris (wart)	Common wart	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
vert art	vertebral artery	Artery traveling through the neck bones to the brain	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
vertical talus	congenital vertical talus (rocker foot)	Rocker-bottom foot deformity	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Surgery
vestibular migraine	vestibular migraine (type)	Migraine causing vertigo episodes	Neurology
vestibular neuritis	vestibular neuritis (diagnosis)	Inner ear inflammation causing vertigo — diagnosis	Neurology
VF	ventricular fibrillation	Chaotic lower-chamber rhythm that stops effective pumping	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
VF	visual field	Total area seen while looking straight ahead	General Medical Vitals & Assessment
VFC	Vaccines for Children (program)	Free vaccine program for eligible children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
VGCV	valganciclovir (chart shorthand)	Oral CMV antiviral shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VGKC	voltage-gated potassium channel antibody (complex)	Older umbrella term for LGI1/CASPR2 antibodies	Neurology Laboratory
VGS	viridans group streptococci	Mouth strep species linked to endocarditis	Infectious Disease Laboratory Cardiology
VH	visual hallucinations	Seeing things that are not there	Psychiatry
VH	vitreous hemorrhage	Bleeding into the eye gel	General Medical Emergency & Critical Care
vHIT	video head impulse test	Camera-based balance reflex test	Neurology
VHL	von Hippel-Lindau disease	Inherited condition causing tumours and cysts	Endocrinology Neurology
VIN	vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia	Pre-cancerous change in vulval skin	Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
Vineland-3	Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-3	Current edition adaptive skills interview	Pediatrics Psychiatry
VIP	etoposide ifosfamide cisplatin	Testicular cancer salvage combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
VIP	vasoactive intestinal peptide	Hormone measured in certain pancreatic tumors	Laboratory Endocrinology Gastroenterology
viral wheeze	viral-induced wheeze (preschool pattern)	Cold-triggered toddler wheeze pattern	Pediatrics Respiratory
virtual crossmatch	virtual crossmatch (compatibility prediction)	Computer-predicted donor compatibility	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
VIS	Vaccine Information Statement	Required vaccine fact sheet	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Nursing
VISA	vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus	Staph bacteria with reduced vancomycin sensitivity	Infectious Disease Laboratory
vision screening	vision screening (instrument)	Device-based eye checks in young children	Pediatrics Nursing
Vit D	vitamin D	Vitamin measured in blood, important for bones	Laboratory Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
vitamin D child	vitamin D deficiency (rickets)	Soft bone deficiency of childhood	Pediatrics Endocrinology Musculoskeletal Laboratory
vitrectomy	pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)	Removal of the eye's gel for retinal problems	Surgery
VKA	vitamin K antagonist	Blood-thinning medicine blocking vitamin K, such as warfarin	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
VL	vastus lateralis (muscle)	Outer front thigh muscle	Musculoskeletal
VL	video laryngoscopy (technique)	Camera-blade tube placement	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
VL	viral load	Amount of virus measured in blood	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VLBW	very low birth weight	Birth weight below 1,500 grams	Pediatrics
VLCAD	very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency	Fat-burning disorder affecting heart and muscle	Pediatrics Laboratory
VLU	venous leg ulcer	Sore on the leg related to poor vein circulation	Nursing Cardiology
VM	vastus medialis (muscle)	Inner front thigh muscle	Musculoskeletal
VMA	vanillylmandelic acid	Urine metabolite of adrenaline hormones	Laboratory Endocrinology
VMAT	volumetric modulated arc therapy	Radiation delivered in rotating arcs	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging
VMO	vastus medialis obliquus	Inner kneecap-stabilizing thigh fibers	Musculoskeletal
VMP	bortezomib melphalan prednisone	Myeloma treatment combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
VMT	vitreomacular traction	Vitreous pulling on the central retina	General Medical
VN	vestibular neuritis	Sudden prolonged vertigo after viral inner-ear inflammation	General Medical Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
VNG	videonystagmography (test)	Video eye recording for balance testing	Neurology
VNR	vinorelbine (chart shorthand)	Plant-alkaloid chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
VNS	vagus nerve stimulation	Device stimulating the vagus nerve, used for epilepsy	Neurology
VNS epilepsy	vagus nerve stimulation (epilepsy)	Implanted stimulator reducing seizures — epilepsy	Neurology Surgery
VNS implant	vagal nerve stimulator implantation	Implanting a seizure-control stimulator	Surgery Neurology
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
voiding pattern	voiding and stooling pattern (newborn charting)	Output tracking in newborn care	Pediatrics Nursing
Volkmann	Volkmann ischemic contracture (sequela)	Forearm scarring after missed compartment syndrome	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
voluntary admission	voluntary admission (psych)	Patient agreeing to psychiatric admission	Psychiatry
volvulus	midgut volvulus (emergency)	Twisted bowel emergency — emergency	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
VOMS	Vestibular/Ocular-Motor Screening	Eye and balance concussion screen	Pediatrics Neurology
von Rosen	von Rosen splint (hip dysplasia)	Rigid hip abduction splint	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
VORB	verbal order read back	Safety read-back of a spoken order	Nursing General Medical
VP shunt	ventriculoperitoneal shunt	Tube draining brain fluid into the abdomen	Surgery Neurology
VP-16	etoposide	Chemotherapy drug also called etoposide	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
VPA level	valproate level (monitoring)	Blood level check for valproic acid	Psychiatry Laboratory Neurology Prescription & Medication Orders
VPI	velopharyngeal insufficiency (speech)	Nose air escape affecting speech after cleft repair	Pediatrics Surgery
VPS	ventriculoperitoneal shunt	Tube draining brain fluid into the abdomen	Neurology Surgery
VR	volume rendering	3D reconstruction technique	Radiology & Imaging
VRC	voriconazole (chart shorthand)	Azole antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
VRd	bortezomib lenalidomide dexamethasone	Myeloma induction combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
VRE	vancomycin-resistant enterococci	Gut bacteria resistant to vancomycin	Laboratory Infectious Disease
VRS	verbal rating scale (pain)	Word-based pain intensity scale	Vitals & Assessment Nursing
VRSA	vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Staph strain resistant to vancomycin	Infectious Disease Laboratory
VRT	vestibular rehabilitation therapy	Exercise therapy retraining balance	Neurology Nursing Musculoskeletal
VS	vital signs	Temperature, pulse, respirations and blood pressure	Vitals & Assessment
VSD	ventricular septal defect	Hole in the wall between the lower heart chambers	Cardiology Pediatrics
VSG	vertical sleeve gastrectomy	Weight-loss operation removing much of the stomach	Surgery Gastroenterology Endocrinology
Vt	tidal volume	Amount of air moved in one breath	Respiratory
VT	ventricular tachycardia	Fast heart rhythm starting in the lower chambers	Cardiology
VT setting	tidal volume (ventilator setting)	Breath size setting — ventilator	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
VTE	venous thromboembolism	Blood clots in veins, including leg clots and lung clots	Cardiology
VTI	velocity time integral	Doppler measure used to calculate flow and stroke volume	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
VUR	vesicoureteral reflux	Backward flow of urine from the bladder toward the kidneys	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology
VUS	variant of uncertain significance	Genetic result whose meaning is not yet known	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
VVA	vulvovaginal atrophy (term)	Thinning of vaginal tissues from low estrogen	Obstetrics & Gynecology Endocrinology
VVC	vulvovaginal candidiasis	Yeast infection of the vulva and vagina	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
VWD	von Willebrand disease	Inherited bleeding disorder from low or faulty von Willebrand factor	Hematology & Oncology
vWF	von Willebrand factor	Blood protein helping platelets stick and carry factor VIII	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
VZIG	varicella-zoster immune globulin	Antibody protection after chickenpox exposure	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
VZV	varicella-zoster virus	Virus causing chickenpox and shingles	Infectious Disease
VZV IgG	varicella-zoster IgG	Immunity marker for chickenpox	Laboratory Infectious Disease

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 "V"

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