Acronyms

Published

Hi all :) I need some help deciphering the lingo. Referring to IV lines (types and locations), what does "R hand HL", is this a regular IV like the one placed in the ER? Does "PAC not accessed" mean peripheral access catheter not accessed or in other words what ever kind of line they have it's not working? Pretty sure "R ac" is right antecubital, correct? What does "L f/a H/L" mean? I think it's left forearm but I don't know what "H/L" means.

Thank you and if you have any other acronyms you want to share I would be grateful. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One more..what does "R SC Perm" mean? I think it's right subclavian but does "Perm" mean permanent and if so what does that mean?

Thanks :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

Man!!! Just other examples of difficulty understanding abbreviations.

Makes my case for NOT using abbreviations!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

H/L means hep locked

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks dat1nurse4u...love your pic, I used it to create a thankyou card for my preceptor :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; med/surg; geriatric; OB; CM.

H/L is heplock; PAC is most likely peripheral access catheter (think a PICC line); AC is antecubital; LFA is left forearm. In our place we use PVADs (peripheral venous access device) and a medport is an SVAP (subclavian vein access port). I had the darndest time not saying heplock for PVAD (because at one time anything you stuck in the patient yourself--not including a PICC or a port-was heparinized hence heplock) but now I only say PVAD. These abbreviations are enough to make you drink!! Then of course there are passports; powerports; trialysis caths; permacaths; art lines and a partridge in a pear tree!!:roflmao: Oh yeah--R SC Perm to me is a Right Subclavian Permacath.......oy....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This is the problem with abbreviations/acronyms...they can facility specific so it would be best to ask the facility itself.

I had a facility use I3 for a hep loc....Intermittent/Intravenous/infusion.

That is why the Joint Commission has a specific list for forbidden ones....http://www.csahq.org/pdf/bulletin/issue_3/dailey.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also, your facility is required to have an "acceptable abbreviations" policy and a list of what they are and what they mean. Ask for a copy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks stitcher98, I will :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

PAC stands for port-a-cath. They are usually used to give chemotherapy. PAC's sit just under the skin and need to be accessed with a special needle. The needle has a little extension tubing attached to it with a clave on the end just like a hep lock. If a PAC is not accessed it may be hard to see. They are usually found on the upper chest wall or rarely the upper inner arm. A PAC is considered a type of central line. Always ask the pt permission before accessing their PAC. Some pt's only allow it to be accessed for chemo. Others are ok with you accessing it for non-chemo purposes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This is the problem with abbreviations/acronyms...they can facility specific so it would be best to ask the facility itself.

I had a facility use I3 for a hep loc....Intermittent/Intravenous/infusion.

That is why the Joint Commission has a specific list for forbidden ones....http://www.csahq.org/pdf/bulletin/issue_3/dailey.pdf

Not only can they be facility specific, but nurses make up their own, which really irks me when trying to read what another nurse wrote and I can't make it out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi all :) I need some help deciphering the lingo. Referring to IV lines (types and locations), what does "R hand HL", is this a regular IV like the one placed in the ER? Does "PAC not accessed" mean peripheral access catheter not accessed or in other words what ever kind of line they have it's not working? Pretty sure "R ac" is right antecubital, correct? What does "L f/a H/L" mean? I think it's left forearm but I don't know what "H/L" means.

Thank you and if you have any other acronyms you want to share I would be grateful. :)

Okay, so your hospital will have a list of approved abbreviations. start there. beyond that, you have listed a lot of unapproved abbreviations and some that aren't even accurate anymore, but people still use. AC or a/c is the antecubital area. L f/a H/L is left forearm heplock. PAC could be several things, but I am pretty sure it is a Percutaneous access catheter, which would indicate a semi-permanent line like a central line (triple lumen CVC) or a PICC line, but I could also see someone using it for an implanted port too.

Now for the heplock issue. Its not a hep-lock unless it is dwelled with heparin. PIV's or peripheral IV's used to be dwelled with heparin, but aren't anymore d/t safety issues. This bugs me because we do dwell implanted ports with Heparin when we deaccess them at my hospital, so I would report that the line is hep-locked or heparin dwelled. It also requires an order at my hospital (no standing orders for this are allowed). If you didn't flush it with heparin, then don't call it a hep-lock. Just my two cents on this one...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion