list of medical abbreviations: p list of medical abbreviations: p medical abbreviations ← previous page of list (o) next page of list (q) → 0–9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z latin abbreviations prescription abbreviations acronyms in healthcare abbreviations for medical organisations and personnel abbreviations for diseases and disorders sortable table abbreviation meaning p̄after (from latin post) pparturition (total number of live births) phosphorus pulse post posmplasma osmolality paposterior–anterior, posteroanterior pulmonary artery psoriatic arthritis primary aldosteronism p&apercussion and auscultation phenol and alcohol matrixectomy pacpremature atrial contraction pulmonary artery catheter, pulmonary artery catheterisation pacupost-anesthesia care unit padperipheral artery disease (aka peripheral artery occlusive disease) postadmission day (e.g. pad 6 equals the sixth day of being in hospital) peripheral airspace disease passively acquired anti-d pafplatelet-activating factor paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent af) pahpulmonary arterial hypertension phenylalanine hydroxylase pai-1plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 palposterior axillary line palspediatric advanced life support (training program) panpolyarteritis nodosa paopeak acid output paodperipheral artery occlusive disease pappapanicolaou stain positive airway pressure pulmonary artery pressure (see pulmonary hypertension) pulmonary alveolar proteinosis pappapanicolaou test (pap smear) papp-apregnancy-associated plasma protein a para iindicating a woman with one child (partus = birth) para iiindicating a woman with two children (partus = birth) pasppulmonary artery systolic pressure pashpseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia patparoxysmal atrial tachycardia pbcprimary biliary cirrhosis pbxprobiotics pbfperipheral blood film p.c.after food (from latin post cibum) after meals pcapatient-controlled analgesia pcaprostate cancer pcdpostconcussional disorder primary ciliary dyskinesia pcelepseudomeningocele pcipercutaneous coronary intervention pciolposterior chamber intraocular lens pclposterior cruciate ligament pcnpenicillin pcnlpercutaneous nephrolithotomy pcnslprimary cns (central nervous system) lymphoma pcopolycystic ovary (see polycystic ovary syndrome) pcospolycystic ovarian syndrome pcppneumocystis carinii pneumonia (now called pneumocystis pneumonia) primary care physician (also called primary care provider) pcrpatient care report polymerase chain reaction pcspost-concussion syndrome pctprogesterone challenge testpatient care technician pcvpacked cell volume (see hematocrit) polycythemia vera pcwppulmonary capillary wedge pressure pdparkinson's disease peritoneal dialysis physical diagnosis personality disorder program director pdapatent ductus arteriosus posterior descending artery pddpremenstrual dysphoric disorder pdephosphodiesterase pdgfplatelet-derived growth factor pdrphysicians' desk reference proliferative diabetic retinopathy pdtphotodynamic therapy pdvtpostoperative deep-vein thrombosis pepulmonary embolism pre-eclampsia pleural effusion physical examination peapulseless electrical activity perrlapupils equal, round and reactive to light pebcisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (chemotherapy regimen) peeppositive end-expiratory pressure pefpeak expiratory flow pefrpeak expiratory flow rate pegpercutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy pemprotein/energy malnutrition (aka kwashiorkor) penpenicillin (best practice is to avoid drug name abbreviations) peppost-exposure prophylaxis permprogressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus perrlpupils equal, round, reactive to light perlapupils equal and reactive to light and accommodation perrlapupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation per vagper vagina petpositron emission tomography (cerebral metabolic scan) pfopatent foramen ovale pftpulmonary function test (see spirometry) pgcspaediatric glasgow coma scale phpulmonary hypertension past history (see also medical history) phxpast history (see also medical history) phgportal hypertensive gastropathy phnpostherpetic neuralgia phppartial hospitalization program phqpatient health questionnaire phtlsprehospital trauma life support pipresent illness piccperipherally inserted central catheter pidpelvic inflammatory disease prolapsed intervertebral disc pig-aphosphatidyl inositol glycan a pihpregnancy induced hypertension pipproximal interphalangeal joint pjspeutz-jeghers syndrome pkprotein kinase pkaprotein kinase a pkdpolycystic kidney disease pkppenetrating keratoplasty pkuphenylketonuria (pku card—see guthrie test) plattissue plasminogen activator plifposterior lumbar interbody fusion (a type of spinal fusion) pltplatelets pmpost meridiem (in the afternoon) pmbpost-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause) pmdprimary medical doctor pmddpremenstrual dysphoric disorder pmhpast medical history (see also medical history) perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage progressive macular hypomelanosis pmipoint of maximal impulse or apical beat point of maximal intensity pmlpolyoma virus progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy pmppseudomyxoma peritonei pmnpolymorphonuclear leukocytes, that is, neutrophils pmrpercutaneous myocardial revascularization polymyalgia rheumatica proportionate mortality rate pm&rphysical medicine and rehabilitation pmspremenstrual syndrome pnapneumonia pnapostnatal age pndparoxysmal nocturnal dyspnea postnasal drip pnetprimitive neuroectodermal tumor pnhparoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria pnmperinatal mortality pnvprenatal vitamin poby mouth, that is, orally (from latin per os) poa(health care) power of attorney pocpostoperative care products of conception plan of care poct point-of-care testing podpostoperative days polstphysician orders for life-sustaining treatment polypolymorphonuclear cells, that is, neutrophils ponvpostoperative nausea and vomiting poppain on palpation, plaster of paris, pelvic organ prolapse, progestin only pills postposterior (see anatomical terms of location) potplan of treatment poxperoxidase pppulse pressure postpartum, that is, postnatal postprandial ppcsprolonged post-concussion syndrome ppdpacks per day (cigarettes) postpartum depression, that is, postnatal depression purified protein derivative or mantoux test, for tuberculosis testing ppepersonal protective equipment ppfposterior pharyngeal flap pphpostpartum haemorrhage primary pulmonary hypertension procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids ppiproton pump inhibitor ppms primary progressive multiple sclerosis pprompreterm prelabor rupture of membranes ppspost-polio syndrome pptprecipitate precipitating pptctprevention of parent-to-child transmission (of hiv) (government of india initiative) pptlpostpartum tubal ligation pptppediatric preclinical testing program ppvpositive predictive value positive pressure ventilation ppxprophylaxis prprothrombin ratio p.r.per rectum (as noun: rectal examination) praplasma renin activity prbc prbcspacked red blood cells preapediatric research equity act premepremature infant (see premature birth) prep prep preparation pre-exposure prophylaxis presposterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome prindprolonged reversible ischemic neurologic deficit prlprolactin prn prnas necessary (from latin pro re nata) (if used in chronic pain control, sometimes disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") as needed progprognosis promprelabor rupture of membranespartial range of motion prppanretinal photocoagulation platelet-rich plasma progressive rubella panencephalitis prrepurine-rich response element prvpolycythemia rubra vera (see polycythemia vera) psaprostate-specific antigen pbsopartial small bowel obstruction pscprimary sclerosing cholangitis pschpreoperative systemic chemotherapy psgnpoststreptococcal glomerulonephritis pshparoxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity past surgical history psychosocial history past medical history (see also medical history) psipneumonia severity index pspphenylsulphtalein pssprogressive systemic sclerosis (see scleroderma) psvtparoxysmal supraventricular tachycardia ptprothrombin time physical therapy (physiotherapy) pt.patient (from latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers") ptapercutaneous transluminal angioplasty post-traumatic amnesia prior to admission peritonsillar abscess ptbpulmonary tuberculosis ptcpercutaneous transhepatic cholangiography ptcapercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty ptdprior to discharge preterm delivery pthparathyroid hormone pthcpercutaneous transhepatic cholangiography ptlpreterm labor ptsdposttraumatic stress disorder ptssposttraumatic stress syndrome (see posttraumatic stress disorder) pttpartial thromboplastin time ptupropylthiouracil ptxpneumothorax pupalindromic unit pubspercutaneous umbilical blood sample pudpeptic ulcer disease puopyrexia of unknown origin puvapsoralen uv a (photochemical ultraviolet light a waves) p.v.per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection) pv polycythemia vera pvc (vpc)premature ventricular contraction pvdperipheral vascular disease pvfspost-viral fatigue syndrome pviperipheral vascular insufficiency pulmonary vein isolation pvodpulmonary venoocclusive disease pvrpulmonary vascular resistancepostvoid residual urine volume pvspersistent vegetative state pulmonary valve stenosis plummer–vinson syndrome pvtparoxysmal ventricular tachycardia pwdpink, warm, and dry (skin assessment) pwppulmonary wedge pressure px pxphysical examination prognosis patient p-ypack-year (years of smoking multiplied by average number of packs, or fraction thereof, per day) pzapyrazinamide