Symbols and abbreviations

AAGBI
Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland

ABC
Airway, Breathing, Circulation

ACE
angiotensin converting enzyme

ACT
artemisinin combination therapy

AF
atrial fibrillation

AFE
amniotic fluid embolism

ALP
alkaline phospatase

ALS
advanced life support

ALT
alanine transaminase

AP
anaesthetic practitioner

APTT
activated partial thromboplastin time

ARF
acute renal failure

ART
antiretroviral therapy

AST
aspartate transaminase

AVPU
Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unconscious

BP
blood pressure

CEMACH
UK Report into Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health

CO
cardiac output

CRF
chronic renal failure

CRP
c-reactive protein

CS
caesarean section

CSE
combined spinal epidural

CSF
cerebrospinal fluid

CTG
cardiotocography

CTPA
computed tomographic pulmonary angiography

CVP
central venous pressure

DIC
disseminated intravascular coagulation

DVT
deep vein thrombosis

ECG
electrocardiogram

ECV
external cephalic version

FFP
fresh frozen plasma

FRC
functional residual capacity

GA
general anaesthesia

GFR
glomerular filtration rate

HELLP
Haemolytic anaemia, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets

HAART
highly active ART

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HOCM
hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

IM
intramuscularly

ITN
insecticide treated mosquito nets

IV
intravenously

IVC
inferior vena cava

LA
local anaesthetic

LDH
lactate dehydrogenase

LEHPZ
lower oesophageal high-pressure zone

LMA
laryngeal mask airway

LMWH
Low molecular weight heparin

MAC
minimal alveolar concentration

MS
mitral stenosis

NCCEDM
National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths

NIBP
non-invasive blood pressure

NSAID
non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs

NVP
nevirapine

PCA
patient controlled analgesia

PCEA
patient controlled epidural analgesia

PCIA
patient controlled intravenous analgesia

PDPH
postdural puncture headache

PE
pulmonary embolus

PET
pre-eclampsia

PPCM
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

PPH
postpartum haemorrhage

PPTp
intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy

PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder

SP
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine

SVR
systemic vascular resistance

TAP
transversus abdominis plane

TENS
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

TMJ
temporomandibular joint

UFH
unfractionated heparin

UTI
urinary tract infections

VBAC
vaginal delivery after CS

VF
ventricular fibrillation

V/Q
ventilation/perfusion

VT
ventricular tachycardia

VTE
venous thrombo-embolism

VQ
ventilation perfusion

WFSA
World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists

WHO
World Health Organization

ZDV
zidovudine