P-Abbreviations

• PA


  Pulmonary artery
• PACU


  Post Anesthesia Care Unit
• PAC


  Premature atrial contraction
• PALS


  Pediatric Advanced Life support
• PaO2


  Partial pressure of oxygen in blood
• para-


  Alongside of, beside, near…etc.
• Para


  Any woman who has given birth
• PCA


  Patient Controlled Anesthesia
• PCO2


  Partial pressure of carbon dioxide
• PCWP


  Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
• PE


  Pulmonary Embolus
• PEA


  Pulseless Electrical Activity
• PICU


  Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• PEEP


  Positive end-expiratory pressure
• PE tube


  Pressure Equalizing tube (ears)
• pH


  Potential hydrogen ion (measure of acidity/alkalinity)
• PICC


  Peripherally inserted central catheter
• PIP


  Peak inspiratory pressure
• pKa


  Acid ionization constant with a negative logarithmic scale (useful acid dissociation)
• PNS


  Peripheral Nervous System
• postop


  postoperative (after surgery)
• pO2


  Partial pressure of oxygen
• PPV


  Pulse Pressure Variation
• PRBCs


  Packed red blood cells
• preop


  preoperative (before surgery)
• prep


  prepare for
• p.r.n.


  as needed (Latin: Pro Re Nata)
• PT


  Prothrombin time
• pt.


  patient
• PTCA


  Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
• PTT


  Partial thromboplastin time
• PVC


  Premature Ventricular Contraction
• PVD


  Peripheral Vascular Disease
• PVT


  Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia
• Px


  prognosis