Dictionary of Medical Acronyms & Abbreviations

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[ P ]

P₁ | P₂ | P₃ | P₄ | P₅ | P₆ | P₇ | P₈ | P₉ | P₁₀ | P₁₁ |

P an electrocardiographic wave corresponding to a wave of depolarization crossing the atria; by weight [Lat. pondere]; father [Lat. pater]; near [Lat. proximum]; near point [Lat. punctum proximum]; pain; parietal electrode placement in electroencephalography; parity; part; partial pressure; Pasteurella; paternal; patient; penicillin; penta- [10¹⁵]; percent; percussion; perforation; permeability; peta-; pharmacopeia; phenophthalein; phenylalanine; phosphate group; phosphorus; physiology; pig; pint; placebo; plan; plasma; Plasmodium; Pneumocystis; point; poise; poison, poisoning; polarity; polarization; pole; polymyxin; pons; population; porcelain; porcine; porphyrin; position; positive; posterior; postpartum; power; precipitin; precursor; prednisone; premolar; presbyopia; pressure; primary; primipara; probability; product; progesterone; prolactin; proline; promoter; properdin; propionate; protein; Proteus; proximal; Pseudomonas; psychiatry; pulmonary; pulse; pupil; radiant power; significance probability [value]; simple programmable [pacemaker]; sound power; weight [Lat. pondus]
P₁ first parental generation; pulmonic first sound
P₂ pulmonic second sound
P₃ proximal third
P³ primary prevention project
P-50 oxygen half-saturation pressure
P₉₀ 90 percentile [statistics]
p120 phosphoprotein 120 (kDa)
p atomic orbital with angular momentum quantum number 1; freeze preservation; the frequency of the more common allele of a pair; momentum; papilla; pathological; phosphate; pico-; pint; pond; pressure; probability; proton; pulse; pupil; short arm of chromosome; sound pressure
p- para
after [L. post]
p24 HIV antigen
Π see pi
π see pi
φ see phi
ψ see psi
PA panic attack; pantothenic acid; paralysis agitans; paranoia; parathion; passive aggressive; pathology; patient's advocate; peak amplitude; performance assessment; periarteritis; peridural artery; periodic acid; periodontal abscess; pernicious anemia; perpetual asymmetry; phakic-aphakic; phenylalkylamine; phosphatidic acid; phenylalanine; phosphoarginine; photoallergy; phthalic anhydride; physical abuse; physician advisor; physician assistant; pituitary-adrenal; plasma adsorption; plasma aldosterone; plasminogen activator; platelet adhesiveness; platelet aggregation; platelet-associated; plicatic acid; polyamine; polyarteritis; polyarthritis; post-aural; posteroanterior; prealbumin; preadipocyte; preamplifier; predictive accuracy; pregnancy-associated; presents again; pressure augmentation [respiration]; primary aldosteronism; primary amenorrhea; primary anemia; prior to admission; proactivator; proanthocyanidin; procainamide; professional association; prolonged action; propionic acid; prostate antigen; protective antigen; proteolytic action; prothrombin activity; protrusio acetabuli; pseudoaneurysm; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; psychoanalysis; psychogenic aspermia; pulmonary arterial [pressure]; pulmonary artery; pulmonary atresia; pulpoaxial; puromycin aminonucleoside; pyruvic acid; pyrrolizidine alkaloid; yearly [Lat. per annum]
P-A posteroanterior
P(A) probability of event A
P&A percussion and auscultation
P_A alveolar pressure; atrial pressure; paternal allele; partial pressure of arterial fluid
PA3 Atrial Pacing Peri-Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation [trial]
Pa acellular pertussis [vaccine]; atrial pressure; pascal; pathologist, pathology; prealbumin; protactinium; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; pulmonary arterial [pressure]
pA picoampere
pa through the anus [Lat. per anum]; yearly [Lat. per annum]
PAA partial agonist activity; phenylacetic acid; phosphonoacetic acid; physical abilities analysis; plasma angiotensinase activity; polyacrylamide; polyacrylic acid; polyamino acid; pyridine acetic acid
PAAI personal access and alert interface [telemedicine]
pAAM polyacrylamide
P(A-a)O₂ alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference
PAAS panic and anticipatory anxiety scale
PAB para-aminobenzoate; performance assessment battery; pharmacologic autonomic block; poly(A)-binding [protein]; premature atrial beat; purple agar base
Pab abdominal pressure
pAb polyclonal antibody
PABA, pABA para-aminobenzoic acid
PABD predeposit autologous blood donation
PABP poly A binding protein; pulmonary artery balloon pump
PABV percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty
PAC paclitaxel; P1 artificial chromosome; papular acrodermatitis of childhood; parent-adult-child; pericarditis-arthropathy-camptodactyly [syndrome]; phenacetin, aspirin, and caffeine; physical activity [scale]; plasma aldosterone concentration; platelet-associated complement; Policy Advisory Committee; preadmission certification; premature atrial contraction; product of ambulatory care; pulmonary artery catheterization
pac pachytene
PACAP pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide
PAC-A-TACH Pacemaker Atrial Tachycardia [trial]
PACC primary ambulatory care center; promoting aphasics' communicative competence
PACCO Pulmonary Artery Catheterization and Clinical Outcomes [study]
PACCS Prospective Army Coronary Calcium Study
PACE Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology; paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme; Partnership in Active Continuous Education; Patient Care Expert [artificial intelligence nursing decision support]; people with arthritis can exercise [program]; personalized aerobics for cardiovascular enhancement; population-adjusted clinical epidemiology; Prevention with Low-dose Aspirin of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly [study]; primary ambulatory care and education; Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly; pulmonary angiotensin I converting enzyme
PACI Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure
PACIFIC potential angina class improvement from intramyocardial channels
PACK Prevention of Atherosclerotic Complications with Ketanserin [study]
PACNS primary angiitis of the central nervous system
PA_CO mean alveolar gas volume
P_ACO_₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide in alveolar gas
P_aCO_₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood
PACP pulmonary alveolar-capillary permeability; pulmonary artery counterpulsation
PACS picture archiving and communication system; postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery
PACS DB picture archiving and communication system data base
PACST Putney Auditory Comprehension Screening Test
PACT papillary carcinoma of thyroid; Philadelphia Association of Clinical Trials; Plasminogen Activator Angioplasty Compatibility Trial; Plasminogen Activator Coronary Angioplasty Trial; precordial acceleration tracing; Prehospital Application of Coronary Thrombolysis [study]; prepaid accountable care term; prescription analyses and cost; Prospective Acute Coronary Syndrome Trial; Pro-urokinase in Acute Coronary Thrombosis [study]
PACU postanesthetic care unit
PACV Pacui virus
PACWP pulmonary arterial capillary wedge pressure
PAD pain and distress; patient surface axis depth; percutaneous abscess drainage; percutaneous automated discectomy; peripheral artery disease; phenacetin, aspirin, and desoxyephedrine; photon absorption densitometry; practitioners accessing data; primary affective disorder; psychoaffective disorder; public access to defibrillation; pulmonary artery diastolic; pulsatile assist device; pulsed amperometric detection
PAD-I Public Access Defibrillation I [trial]
PADL personal activities of daily living
PADP pulmonary artery diastolic pressure
PADPRP, pADPRP polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase
PADS patient archiving and documentation system
PADUA progressive augmentation by dilating the urethra anterior
PAdV 1-3, 4, 5 porcine adenoviruses 1-3, 4, 5
PAdV-A, B, C porcine adenoviruses A, B, and C
PADyC passive arm with dynamic constrains [computer-assisted surgery]
PAE paradoxical air embolism; postanoxic encephalopathy; post-antibiotic effect; progressive assistive exercise
PAEC porcine aortic endothelial cell
paed [paediatrics, paediatric] pediatrics, pediatrics
PAEDP pulmonary artery end-diastolic pressure
PAEP progestagen-associated endometrial protein
PAES popliteal artery entrapment syn-drome
PAF paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; peroxisomal assembly factor; phosphodiesterase-activating factor; plain abdominal film; platelet-activating factor; platelet-aggregating factor; pollen adherence factor; population-attributable fractions; premenstrual assessment form; progressive autonomic failure; pulmonary arteriovenous fistula; pure autonomic failure
PA&F percussion, auscultation, and fremitus
PAFA priority based assessment of foot additives
PAF-A platelet-activating factor of anaphylaxis
PAFAC Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardioversion [study]
PAFAH platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase
PAFAMS Pan-American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools
PAFD percutaneous abscess and fluid drainage; pulmonary artery filling defect
PAFI platelet-aggregation factor inhibitor
PAFIB paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
PAFIT Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Italian Trial
PAFP pre-Achilles fat pad
PAFra platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist
PAFT Propafenone Atrial Fibrillation Trial
PAG periaqueductal gray [matter]; polyacrylamide gel; pregnancy-associated globulin; proliferation-associated gene; proximal anastomosis graft; pulmonary arteriography
pAg protein A-gold [technique]
PAGA proliferation-associated gene A
PAGE perfluorocarbon-associated gas exchange; polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
PAGE-IEF polyacrylamine gel electrophoresis-isoelectric focusing [electrophoresis]
PAGIF polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing
PAGMK primary African green monkey kidney
PAGOD pulmonary hypoplasia-hypoplasia of pulmonary artery-agonadism-omphalocele/diaphragmatic defect-dextrocardia [syndrome]
PAH para-aminohippurate; phenylalanine hydroxylase; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; predicted adult height [by Bayley-Pinneau]; pulmonary alveolar hypoventilation; pulmonary artery hypertension; pulmonary artery hypotension
PAHA para-aminohippuric acid; procainamide-hydroxylamine
PAHO Pan-American Health Organization
PAHP p-aminoheptanoylphenone
PAHV Pahayokee virus
PAHVC pulmonary alveolar hypoxic vasoconstrictor
PAI pain assessment inventory; partial androgen insensitivity; pathogenicity island; patient assessment instrument; perforating arterial infarction; plasminogen activator inhibitor; platelet accumulation index
PAI-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
PAI-2 plasminogen activator inhibitor 2
PAIC procedures, alternatives, indications, and complications
PAICS phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase
PAID problem areas in diabetes [scale]
PAIDS paralyzed academic investigator's disease syndrome; pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
PAIg platelet-associated immunoglobulin
PAIgG platelet-associated immunoglobulin G
PAIMS Plasminogen Activator Italian Multicenter Study
PAIN pyoderma gangrenosum, aphthous stomatitis, inflammatory eye disease, erythema nodosum [disorders associated with inflammatory bowel disease]
PAIRS Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale
P_airway airway pressure
PAIS partial androgen insensitivity syndrome; phosphoribosylaminoimidazole synthetase; Pravastatin in Acute Ischemic Syndromes [study]; psychosocial adjustment to illness scale
PAIS-SR psychosocial adjustment to illness scale-self reported
PAIVS Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum [collaborative study]
PAJ paralysis agitans juvenilis
PAK p21-activated kinase; pancreas after kidney [transplantation]
PAKY percutaneous access to kidney
PAKY-RCM percutaneous access to kidney-remote center of motion [computer-assisted surgery]
PAL paradox advanced [computer] language; pathology laboratory; peptidyl-alpha-hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lysine phase alteration plane; physical activity level; pointer to text application language; posterior assisted levitation [cataract surgery]; posterior axillary line; product of activated lymphocytes; pyogenic abscess of the liver
pal palate
PALA N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate
PALP placental alkaline phosphatase
palp palpation, palpate
palpi palpitation
PALS parietolateral lymphocyte sheath; Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service; pediatric advanced life support; prison-acquired lymphoproliferative syndrome
PALV Palyam virus
PAM pancreatic acinar mass; penicillin aluminum monostearate; peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase; phenylalaline mustard; physical agent modality; physical archive manager [database element]; p-methoxyamphetamine; postauricular myogenic; potassium-aggravated myotonia; pralidoxime; pre-arrest morbidity [index]; pregnancy-associated α-macroglobulin; primary amebic meningoencephalitis; principles of ambulatory medicine; professions allied to medicine; pulmonary alveolar macrophage; pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis; pulse amplitude modulation; pyridine aldoxime methiodide
PAMC pterygoarthromyodysplasia congenita
2-PAM Cl 2-pralidoxime chloride
PAMD primary adrenocortical micronodular dysplasia
PAME preanesthesia medical examination; primary amebic meningoencephalitis
PAMI Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction [trial]
PAMIE physical and mental impairment of function evaluation
PAMI-No SOS Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction with No Surgery on Site
PAMP pulmonary artery mean pressure
PAMR progressively automated medical record
PAMV Pampa virus
PAN periarteritis nodosa; periodic alternating nystagmus; peroxyacylnitrate; personal area network; polyarteritis nodosa; positional alcohol nystagmus; puromycin aminonucleoside
pan pancreas, pancreatic, pancreatectomy
Panc pancreas or pancreatic
P-ANCA perinuclear anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody
PAND primary adrenocortical nodular dysplasia
PANDA Paediatric Asthma Education of a New Multidose Dry Powder Inhaler [study]
PANDAS pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection
PANE pediatric ambulance needs evaluation
PANI polyanilide
PANS puromycin aminonucleoside
PANSS Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
PAO peak acid output; periacetabular osteotomy; peripheral airway obstruction; plasma amine oxidase; polyamine oxidase; pulmonary artery occlusion; pustulotic arthroosteitis
PAO₂ alveolar oxygen partial pressure
PAo airway opening pressure; ascending aortic pressure; pulmonary artery occlusion pressure
PaO₂ partial arterial oxygen tension
PAO₂/FIO₂, PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio of alveolar partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired air
PAOD peripheral arterial occlusive disease; peripheral arteriosclerotic occlusive disease
Pao, max peak airway pressure
PAOP p-aminooctanoylphenone; pulmonary artery occlusion pressure
PaOP pulmonary artery occlusion pressure
PAP pancreatitis-associated protein; Papanicolaou [test]; papaverine; passive-aggressive personality; password authentication protocol; patient assessment program; peak airway pressure; phosphoadenosine phosphate; peroxidase antibody to peroxidase; peroxidase-antiperoxidase [method]; placental acid/alkaline phosphatase; poly A polymerase; positive airway pressure; primary atypical pneumonia; prostatic acid phosphatase; pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; pulmonary artery pressure; purified alternate pathway
Pap Papanicolaou test
pap papilla
PAPC paraxial protocadherin
PAPF platelet adhesiveness plasma factor
papova papilloma-polyoma-vacuolating agent [virus]
PAPP para-aminopropiophenone; pregnancy-associated plasma protein
PAPPA pregnancy-associated plasma protein A
PAPPC pregnancy-associated plasma protein C
PAPR powered air purifying respirator
PAPS 3´-phosphoadenosine-5´-phosphosulfate; primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
Paps papillomas
Pap sm Papanicolaou smear
PAPUFA physiologically active polyunsaturated fatty acid
pa-pv pulmonary arterial pressure-pulmonary venous pressure
PAPVC partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection
PAPVD partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
PAPVR partial anomalous pulmonary venous return
PAQ patient asked questions; Personal Attitudes Questionnaire
PAQLQ Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ)
PAR parent in semantic hierarchy [UMLS]; participating provider; passive avoidance reaction; percentage abnormal results; perennial allergic rhinitis; photosynthetically active radiation; Physical Activity Recall [Questionnaire]; physiological aging rate; plain abdominal radiograph; platelet aggregation receptor; platelet aggregate ratio; Policy, Action, and Rational Drug Use [WHO]; population-attributable risk; postanesthesia recovery; postanesthesia [recovery] room; posterior wall or aortic root; primary angioplasty research; Program for Alcohol Recovery; proximal alveolar region; pseudoautosomal region; pulmonary arteriolar resistance
PAR% population-attributable risk percent
par paraffin; paralysis
PARA, Para, para number of pregnancies producing viable offspring
para paraplegic; parathyroid, parathyroidectomy
para 0 nullipara
para I primipara
para II secundipara
para III tripara
para IV quadripara
PARADIGM Platelet Aggregation Receptor Antagonist Dose Investigation for Perfusion Gain in Myocardial Infarction [study]
PARADISE Platelet IIb/IIIa Antagonism for the Reduction of Acute Coronary Events Dose Investigation and Safety Evaluation [study]
PARAGON Platelet IIb/IIIa Antagonist for the Reduction of Acute Coronary Syndrome Events in a Global Organization Network [study]
parasit parasitology; parasite, parasitic
parasym parasympathetic
PARAT Prevention of Arterial Restenosis Angiographic Trial