List of medical abbreviations: S

Abbreviation Meaning
without (s with an overbar) (from Latin sine)
S sacrum
Sx symptoms
surgery (though deemed by some as inappropriate)
S1 first heart sound
S2 second heart sound
S3 third heart sound
S4 fourth heart sound
S&O salpingo-oophorectomy
Sb Scholar batch
SAAG serum–ascites albumin gradient
SAB staphylococcal bacteremia
spontaneous abortion (that is, miscarriage)
SAD seasonal affective disorder
subacromial decompression
SAH subarachnoid hemorrhage
SAM systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve

Severe acute malnutrition

SAN sinoatrial node
SaO2 arterial oxygen saturation
SAPS II simplified acute physiology score
SAPS III simplified acute physiology score
SAR seasonal allergic rhinitis
sub-acute rehabilitation facility
Sarc sarcoidosis
SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome
SB small bowel (see small intestine)
SBE subacute bacterial endocarditis
SBFT small bowel follow through
SBMA spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
SBO small bowel obstruction
SBP systolic blood pressure
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
SBR Serum Bilirubin
SBRT split beam radiation therapy
SC Spinal Cord or subcutaneous (from Latin subcutis)
SCA spinocerebellar ataxia
SCAT sex cord tumor with annular tubes
SCC squamous cell carcinoma
SCD sequential compression device
sickle-cell disease
sudden cardiac death
SCI spinal cord injury
SCID severe combined immunodeficiency
SCIWORA spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality
SCLC small cell lung cancer
SCN severe congenital neutropenia
sickle cell nephropathy
superior cluneal nerves
suprachiasmatic nucleus
scope microscope or endoscope
SCT sacrococcygeal tumor
SCZ schizophrenia
S.D. subdermal
SD
σ
standard deviation
SDH subdural hematoma
SDTI suspected deep tissue injury
SE standard error
side effect
Sed sedimentation (rate) (see erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
SEE syphilis elimination effort
Segs segmented cells
SEM standard error of the mean
systolic ejection murmur (see heart murmur)
SERM selective estrogen receptor modulator
SERT serotonin transporter
SFA superficial femoral artery
serum folic acid
SGA small for gestational age
SG cath Swan–Ganz catheter (see pulmonary artery catheter)
SG specific gravity (in urinanalysis)
SGB stellate ganglion block
SGOT serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SH
SHx
social history (personal habits, living situation, job)
SHBG sex hormone-binding globulin
shob shortness of breath (see dyspnea)
SHPT secondary hyperparathyroidism
SHx surgical history
SI International System of Units
suicidal ideation
seriously ill
sacroiliac (joint)
STAC Scaffolding theory of cognitive aging
SIADH syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
SICU surgical intensive care unit
SIBO small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
SID semel in die meaning once daily. Used only in veterinary medicine.
SIDS sudden infant death syndrome
SIL squamous intraepithelial lesion
SIMV synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation
si op. sit if needed (from Latin si opus sit)
SIRS systemic inflammatory response syndrome
SIT stress inoculation training (see posttraumatic stress disorder)
SJS Stevens–Johnson syndrome
SK streptokinase
sl sublingual
SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
SLEV St Louis virus
SLL small lymphocytic lymphoma
SLN sublingual nitroglycerin
SLN
SLNB
sentinel lymph node biopsy
SLP speech-language pathologist
SLR straight leg raise (see Lasègue's sign)
SM multiple sclerosis (from Latin sclerosis multiplex)
submucosal
Skeletal Muscle
SMA sequential multiple analysis
superior mesenteric artery
spinal muscle atrophy
SMA-6 six-channel serum multiple analysis
SMA-7 serum metabolic assay
SMN statement of medical necessity
SMS senior medical student
SMT spinal manipulative therapy
SMV superior mesenteric vein
SN student nurse
skilled nursing
SNB sentinel node biopsy (ductal carcinoma)
SNF skilled nursing facility
SNHL sensorineural hearing loss
SNP sodium nitroprusside
single nucleotide polymorphism
SNRI serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
SNV sin nombre virus (the most common type of hantavirus)
single nucleotide variant
SO salpingo-oophoritis
SOA swelling of ankles
SOAP subjective, objective, assessment, plan (how physicians’ notes may be organized)
SOB shortness of breath (see dyspnea)
SOBOE shortness of breath on exertion
SOL space-occupying lesion
Sol solution
SOOB send out of bed
sitting out of bed
SOP sterile ophthalmic preparation
SORA stable on room air
SOS if needed (from Latin si opus sit)
SP
s/p
status post; condition after"
SPE streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin
Spec specimen
SPECT single-photon emission computed tomography
SPEP serum protein electrophoresis
SPET single-photon emission tomography
spp. species, as in bacterial species (e.g. Enterobacteriaceae spp.)
Sp. fl. spinal fluid (see cerebrospinal fluid)
Sp. gr. specific gravity
SPS single point (walking) stick
SQ
sq
subcutaneous
SR slow release (see also time release technology (medicine))
Sinus rhythm
SpO2 peripheral capillary oxygen saturation
SROM spontaneous rupture of membranes
SRS stereotactic radiotherapy
sex reassignment surgery
SRU shock resuscitation unit
ss
ss
one-half (ss either with or without a bar over them) (from Latin semis)
SS hemoglobin SS (HbSS) (see in sickle-cell disease = SS disease)
subserosal
Sjogren's Syndrome
S/S
S/Sx
signs and symptoms
SSC secondary sex characteristics
SSE sterile speculum exam
SSEP somatosensory evoked potential
SSI sliding scale insulin
SSKI potassium iodide solution
SSPE subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
ssRNA single-stranded RNA
SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
SSSI skin and skin structure infection (also referred to as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection - ABSSSI)
SSSS staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
SSS sick sinus syndrome
ST sore throat
speech therapy
Staph. Staphylococcus
STD sexually transmitted disease
stat immediately (from Latin statim)
STEC Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (another name for enterohemorrhagic E. coli)
STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarction
STH somatotropic hormone
STI sexually transmitted infection
soft tissue injury
STN Subthalamic nucleus
soft tissue neck
STNR Symmetrical tonic neck reflex
STOP surgical termination of pregnancy (sometimes suction termination of pregnancy)
Strep.
Strepto.
Streptococcus
STS serological test for syphilis
soft tissue sarcoma
Subq subcutaneous
SUD substance use disorder
SUI stress urinary incontinence
Supp suppository
SUV standardized uptake value
Sux Suxamethonium chloride (Succinylcholine)
SV seminal vesicle
stroke volume
SVC superior vena cava
SVD spontaneous vaginal delivery
simple vertex delivery
SVE sterile vaginal examination
SVG Saphenous vein graft
SVI systemic viral infection
SVN small volume nebulizer
SVR systemic vascular resistance
SVT supraventricular tachycardia
SW Sturge–Weber syndrome
Sx symptoms
SXA single-energy X-ray absorptiometer
SXR skull x-ray
Sz seizure

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