P2
Pulmonic 2nd Sound

PA
Pulmonary Artery, Pressure Assist

PAC
Premature Arterial Contraction

PACU
Post Anesthesia Care Unit

PAD
Pulmonary Artery Diastolic

PARA
Pregnancies (e.g., PARA 4-1-2=4 Pregnancies, 1 Abortion or Miscarriage; 2 Living Children)

PARA I
Female Having Borne One Child (uni-para)

PARA II
Female Having Borne Two Children (bi-para)

PAS
Pulmonary Artery Systolic

Patellar Apprehension Test
A test designed to identify dislocation of the patella. The patient lies supine with the knee resting in full extension. The examiner carefully and slowly displaces the patella laterally. If the patie...Full Definition

Patello-Femoral Grind test
This test indicates roughening or pitting of the articular surfaces of the patella and femoral condyles (chondromalacia). To perform this test the patient sits with the knee fully extended and support...Full Definition

Path
Pathology

PAW
Pulmonary Artery Wedge

PBI
Protein Bound Iodine

pc
Post Cibum = After Meals

PCA
Patient Controlled Analgesic Used by Pharmacy

PCN
Penicillin

PCO2
Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide

PCP
Primary Care Physician

PCWP
Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure

PCXR
Portable Chest X-Ray

PD
Interpupillary Distance

PDA
Patent Ductus Arteriosus

PDC
Private Diagnostic Clinic

PE
Physical Examination

Ped
Pediatrics

PEEP
Positive End Expiratory Pressure

PEG
Pneumoencephalogram

Pelvic Rock Test
Used to identify pathology of the sacroiliac joint. The ASIS on each side of the pelvis are identified and then a medial force is applied to both of them attempting to force them together. Increased p...Full Definition

Percussion/"thump" test
This test checks for possible fracture in the ankle joint or in the tibia or fibula. To perform this test the patient is seated on a table with the leg in a dependent position and the ankle at 90 degr...Full Definition

PERLA
Pupils Equal, Round, React to Light & Accomodation

PFR
Plasma Flow Rate

PFT
Pulmonary Function Test

pg
Picogram = 1 x 10-12 Gram

PG
Plasma Glucose

pH
The Negative Logarithm of the Effective Hydrogen-ion Concentration

PH
Past History; Pinhole

Phalen's (wrist flexion) test
A test designed to determine the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome. The examiner, who maintains this position by holding the patient's wrists together for one minute, maximally flexes the patient's w...Full Definition

PI
Present Illness

PIC
Peripheral Inserted Catheter

PICC
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

PICU
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

PID
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

PIP
Proximal Interphalangeal Joint

PIV
Peripheral intravenous access

PKU
Phenylketonuria

PL
Palmaris Longus

Pl. Surg.
Plastic Surgery

plt
Platelet

pm
Post Meridiem = Afternoon

Pm
Picomole = 1 x 10-12 Mole

PMH
Past Medical History

PMI
Point of Maximal Impulse (of Heart on Chest Wall)

PMP
Previous Menstral Period

pn
pain

PNC
Premature Nodal Contraction

po
Per Orifice - by Mouth

PO2
Partial Pressure of Oxygen

POD
Post Operative Day

pos
Positive

Post. Tib.
Posterior Tibial

Posterior Sag Sign (Gravity Drawer Test)
A test designed to identify posterior instability of the knee. The patient lies supine with the knees flexed to 90 degrees and the feet supported. The test is positive if the tibia sags back on the fe...Full Definition

Post-op
Following Surgery

POV
Privately Owned Vehicle

PPHN
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of Newborn

PPTL
Post-partum Tubal Ligation

PR, pr
Per rectum

PRBC
Packed Red Blood Cells

Pre-op
Prior to Surgery

Prep
Preparation; prepare for

PRM
Patient Resource Manager / Management

PRN, prn
Pro Re Nata = Whenever Necessary

Pro. Rad. T
Pronatory Radii Teres

Procto
Proctoscopy, Proctology

PROM
Passive Range of Motion

Prone Knee Flexion test (also called reverse Lasegue test):
A test designed to identify L2 or L3 nerve root lesions. The patient lies prone while the examiner passively flexes the knee so that the patient's heel touches the patient's buttocks. The test is posi...Full Definition

PS
Physical Status; Pulmonary Stenosis, Pressure Support

PSP
Phenolsulfozphthalein Test (Kidney)

PSS
Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

PSU
Plastic Surgery Unit

Psy
Psychiatry

PT
Physical Therapy

PT
Prothrombin Time

Pt.
Patient

PTA
Prior to Arrival

PTCA
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

PTib
Posterior Tibula

PTT
Partial Thromboplastin Time

PVC
Premature Ventricular Contraction

PVR
Pulmonary Vascular Resistance

PWAB
Partial Weight Bearing

PWB
Partial Weight Bearing