Neurosurgical Abbreviations
- S -

s          without (Latin sine)

S          sacrum or sacral or subjectives

S1        first heart sound

S2        second heart sound

S1, ...   first, second (other) sacral vertebral levels

SAb     spontaneous abortion

SABP   systolic arterial blood pressure

sad      subacromial decompression

SAH     subarachnoid hemorrhage

SAL     suction assisted lipectomy

SaO₂    blood oxygen saturation

SAP     soon as possible

SAQ    short arc quads

SARS  severe acute respiratory syndrome

sat.      saturation

SBA     stand-by assist

SBE     subacute bacterial endocarditis

SBP     systemic blood pressure

SC       sternoclavicular

SCA     superior cerebellar artery

SCC     semi-closed circuit

SCD's  sequential compression devices (for legs)

schizo schizophrenic

SCID    Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Diagnosis

SCM     sternocleidomastoid muscle

SCS     spinal cord stimulation or spinal canal stenosis

S.D.     standard deviation

SDAT   senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type

SDS     sudden death syndrome

SE        status epilepticus or spiral electrode

sec.     second

SED     selective endoscopic discectomy

sed rate   erythrocyte sedimentation rate

seg      segmented lymphocyte

SEM     systolic ejection murmur semi- half or part

sev var    severe variability

SGA    small for gestational age

SGOT  serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (liver function test)

SGPT   serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (liver function test)

SH       scapulohumeral

SI         sacroiliac joint

SIADH  syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion

SID       sudden infant death

SIDS    sudden infant death syndrome

SIH       spontaneous intracranial hypotension

sig:      labeling instructions for prescriptions

SIMV    synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation

SIP       sympathetic independent pain

SIPS     sympathetic independent pain syndrome

SKC     single-knee-to-chest position

SL        sublingual (placed under tongue)

SLAD   surgical laser aiming device

SLAP   Superior Labrum Anterior-Posterior

SLB     single limb balance

SLC     short leg cast

SLD     spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis

SLE      systemic lupus erythematosus

SLO     streptolysin-O (medication)

SLR     single limb raise (exercise) or straight leg raising

sm       small

SM       submucous

SMAC-20 Sequential Multiple Analysis (twenty lab test panel)

SMAC-7   Sequential Multiple Analysis (seven lab test panel)

SMD     senile macular degeneration

SME     subject matter expert

SMP     Sympathetically Mediated Pain

SMR     submucous reaction

SNBx   scalene node biopsy

S.N.F.  skilled nursing facility

SNRB   selective nerve root block

SO       superior oblique or salpingo-oophorectomy

SOB     short of breath

sol.      solution

SOM    serous otitis media

SOP     standard operating procedure

s/p       status post (after)

SPC     single point cane

spec.   specimen

SPECT Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

sp. gr.  specific gravity

SQ       subcutaneous

sq. cell CA               squamous cell carcinoma

SR       stereotactic radiosurgery or speech reception threshold or sinus rhythm or superior rectus

SRNV  subretinal neovascularization

SROM  spontaneous rupture of membranes

SRT     speech reception threshold

ss        one half

SS       soap suds or Social Security or signs and symptoms

S/S      signs and symptoms

SSC     short stay center

SSDI    Social Security Disability Income

SSEP   somatosensory evoked potentials

SSKI    saturated solution of potassium iodide

SSN     Social Security number

SSPE   subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

SSRI    selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (antidepressants)

Staph.  Staphylococcus (bacteria)

stim.     stimulator

Strep   Streptococcus (bacteria)

ST-wave electrocardiographic wave complex

ST        speech therapy

STA     superficial temporal artery

STAB   stabnuclear neutrophil

stat      immediately or emergently

std       standard

steth.   stethoscope

STD's   sexually transmitted diseases

STM     soft tissue mobilization

STS     serologic test for syphilis

STSG   split thickness skin graft

STSx   stereotactic radiosurgery

ST-T    electrocardiographic wave complex

STV+   short term viability present

STV inter short term viability intermittent

sub-     below

sub-Q  subcutaneous

suc      suction

suct.    suction

SUH     Stanford University Hospital

sup      suppository

supp.   suppository

surg .   surgery

SV       spontaneous ventilation

SVA    sagittal vertical axis (distance from a plumb line from C7 to sacrum)

SVD     spontaneous vaginal delivery

SVR     systemic vascular resistance

SVT     super ventricular tachycardia

S.W.    Social Worker

SWR    surface wrinkling retinopathy

Sx        symptoms

symm.  symetrical

Sz        seizure

If you are aware of any abbreviations not in this list, your help would be greatly appreciated.  Please send me any abbreviations not on the list and I will update the web site.  Click here to send a comment.