Abbreviations

atrial fibrillation

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

ampoule

anti-retroviral

twice daily

British National Formulary

blood pressure

capsules

controlled drug

congestive heart failure

cytomegalovirus

central nervous system

carbon dioxide

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

cyclo-oxygenase

continuous subcutaneous infusion

chemotherapy

computed tomography

computed tomography pulmonary arteriogram

chemoreceptor trigger zone

cerebrovascular accident

disseminated intravascular coagulation

district nurse

deep vein thrombosis

electrocardiogram

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

equivalent daily dose of morphine

full blood count

forced expiratory volume in one second

fine needle aspiration

gram

gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

gastrointestinal

General Medical Council

general practitioner

Gray(s): a measure of radiation

hour or hourly

highly active anti-retroviral therapy

human immunodeficiency virus

head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma

intracranial pressure

intramuscular

injection

immediate release

intrathecal

intravenous

intravenous infusion

intravenous urogram

Kaposi’s sarcoma

kilovolt

litre

local anaesthetic

liver function tests

left ventricular failure

Mycobacterium avium intracellulare

monoamine oxidase inhibitor(s)

maximum

mega electronvolt

microgram

motor neurone disease

modified release

magnetic resonance imaging

multiple unit pellet system

megavolt

mouthwash

noradrenergic and specific serotoninergic antidepressant

nebulizer

nasogastric

N-methyl-D-aspartate

at night

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

non small-cell lung carcinoma

New York Heart Association

once daily

in the morning

oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate

Patient controlled analgesia

Palliative Care Formulary

palliative care team

pulmonary embolism

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

positron emission tomography

primary healthcare team

by mouth

proton pump inhibitor

per rectum/progesterone receptor

when required

prostate-specific antigen

parathyroid hormone

per vaginam

persistent vegetative state

four times daily

quality of life

renal bone liver (investigations)

randomized controlled trial

radiologically inserted gastrostomy

radiotherapy

speech and language therapy

subcutaneous

small-cell lung carcinoma

syringe driver (CSCI)

side-effects

selective oestrogen-receptor modulators

sublingual

solution

specialist palliative care

slow or modified release

selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor

immediately

suppositories

suspension

superior vena cava

superior vena cava obstruction

tablets

tuberculosis

tubercular meningitis

three times daily

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

transient ischaemic attack

therapeutic standard dose

urea and electrolytes

Ung Emulcificans Aqueosum

upper respiratory tract infection

urinary tract infection

ventilation/perfusion

venous thromboembolism

World Health Organization