What does S/P mean?

Nursing Students Student Assist Nursing Q/A

What does S/P mean?

I know it stands for status post, but what does it actually mean? For example, deep vein thrombosis s/p inferior vena cava filter. Does it mean the patient developed DVT after having an IVC filter?

Thanks.

9 Answers

s/p ("status post") means that the client has had the procedure or event in the past. As in, "s/p appendectomy" means the person has had an appy; "s/p overdose" means the person took an overdose, etc. So, "deep vein thrombosis s/p inferior vena cava filter" would mean that the client has deep vein thrombosis and has had (an) inferior vena cava filter (placed). (IVC filter placement is a treatment for DVT -- the DVT came first, not after.)

status post . . . .it means their condition after something . . . their status post surgery.

s/p: Status post. For example, a person who had a knee operation would be s/p a knee operation.

status post

S/P means after. It usually means after a procedure or surgery . S/P ventriculoperitoneal shunt would mean that the patient had surgery to get the shunt placed.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

SP = status post, they were admitted after insertion of a VP shunt.

Just like an admission S/P ORIF Fx L ankle (status post open reduction & internal fixation of fractured left ankle)

Generally S/P is used post procedure or surgery admission as they need inpatient post operative care. Nursing care would be risk for infection, or any other issue that would be real or potential post major surgery. For example the VP shunt would be to correct hydrocephalus therefore hydrocephalus would be the pre-admission diagnosis but since the shunt (or at least should have) corrected the hydrocephalus the post surgical admission diagnosis would be S/P VP shunt insertion. For your care plan, you would look at post surgical diagnoses and also any limitations as a result of the condition that caused the need for surgery (such as hydrocephalus due to intracranial hemorrhage, seizures as a result of ICH, etc.)

I am trying to pre-plan for clinical tomorrow and in the history of present illness it says: "57 year old male S/P distal pancreatectomy."

What does the "S/P" stand for? I should have asked the nurses in the hospital but I didn't. Next time I will!

Thanks.

Thank you! I appreciate it!

Can anyone help me: I'm a student and i don't understand. my pt had a diagnosis "S/P ventriculoperitoneal shunt", I know what a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is and I know that s/p means status post, but can anyone tell me how being S/P VT is a diagnosis? Because I have a care plan due and I can't define my diagnosis and explain why my pt has it. Please...anyone...

Specializes in Pedi.

Shunts don't really "correct" hydrocephalus. They treat it but the patient still has hydrocephalus. If the shunt fails, as they often do, the patient will have to be rushed into emergency surgery because of acute hydrocephalus.

Your care plan will be more focused towards the medical diagnosis of "s/p VP shunt" though because that's what you need to focus on. What are your concerns for a patient with a new VP Shunt? What do they/the family need to be taught about the possibility of shunt failure and the symptoms to watch out for?

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