Charting says B PE

[oyvey11]

Hey. I'm doing some prep work on a patient who has a pulmonary embolism. The charting has an abbreviation (B) PE. Does this just mean both lungs?

Thank you!!!!

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I have no idea, and couldn't find anything that made sense through research. It's very rare to have a PE in both lungs, although Bilateral is a possibility. It's not a general abbreviation, so it must be specific to your facility. I'd suggest asking one of the nurses or doctors on the unit if they can clarify for you.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

(b) is often used to mean bilateral, to be congruent with ® = right, and (l) = left.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Not a Joint Commission approved abbreviation....this is exactly why they do not like abbreviations. I assume it n=means bilateral......call the facility, they'll know.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

this might be regional: around here (north atlantic states) i see this used all the time.