List of medical abbreviations: L

Sortable table
Abbreviation Meaning
L leukocytes
lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5)
L&D labor and delivery
LA left atrium
lymphadenopathy
local anesthetic
LAAM L-alpha-acetylmethadol
Lab laboratory (in health care, usually referring to clinical laboratory)
LABA long-acting beta agonist
LABBB left anterior bundle branch block
Lac laceration
lactate
LAD left anterior descending (a coronary artery)
leukocyte adhesion deficiency
left axis deviation (see electrocardiogram)
lymphadenopathy
LAE left atrial enlargement
LAH left anterior hemiblock
LAHB left anterior hemiblock
Lam laminectomy
LAN lymphadenopathy
LAP leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
Lap laparotomy
Lap appy laparoscopic appendectomy
LAR low anterior resection
LARP left → anterior, right → posterior (path of the vagi as they wander from thorax to abdomen)
LAS lymphadenopathy syndrome
Lat lateral
lb
LB
pound or pounds (mass)
LBBB left bundle branch block
LBO large bowel obstruction
LBP low back pain
LBW low birth weight
LCA left coronary artery
LCHAD long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase
LCIS lobular carcinoma in situ
LCM lymphocytic meningitis
LCMV lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
LCP Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient
LCPD Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease
LCV leukocytoclastic vasculitis
LCX left circumflex artery
L&D labor and delivery
LDH lactate dehydrogenase
LDL low-density lipoprotein
LDL-C low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
L-DOPA levo-dihydroxyphenylalanine
LEC lupus erythematosus cell
LEEP loop electrical excision procedure
LES lower esophageal sphincter
lupus erythematosus systemicus
LE lupus erythematosus
lower extremity (human leg)
leu leukocytes
LFT liver function test
LGA large for gestational age
LGL Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome
LGM lymphogranulomatosis maligna
LGSIL low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
LGV lymphogranuloma venereum
LH luteinizing hormone
lightheadedness
LHC left heart catheterization
LHRH luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone
Lig ligament
LIH left inguinal hernia
LLD leg length discrepancy
LLE left lower extremity
LLETZ large loop excision of the transformation zone
LLL left lower lobe
LLQ left lower quadrant
LM left main
LMA left mentoanterior (fetal position)
laryngeal mask airway
LMCA left main coronary artery
LMD local medical doctor
LMP last menstrual period—first day of the menstrual period
low malignant potential
LMWH low-molecular-weight heparin
LN lymph node
Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC)
LND lymph node dissection
LNG levonorgestrel
LNI lymph node involvement
LOA left occipitoanterior (fetal position)
level of activity
lysis of adhesions

Loss of Appetite

LOC loss of consciousness
level of consciousness (e.g., "altered LOC from head trauma")
LOF leakage of fluid
LOH loss of heterozygosity
LOI loss of imprinting
LOL little old lady (often LOL in NAD—see House of God)
lymph-obligatory load
LOM limitation of motion
LOP left occiput posterior (fetal position)
LORTA loss of resistance to air (in anesthesiology; when placing epidural, LORTA indicates entrance of needle to epidural space)
LOS length of stay
Lot lotion
LOT left occiput transverse (fetal position)
Lp lipoprotein
LP lumbar puncture
LPH left posterior hemiblock (see heart block)
LPL lipoprotein lipase
LPP lichen planopilaris
LQTS long QT syndrome
L/S lecithin-to-sphingomyelin ratio
LS lichen sclerosus
Lynch syndrome
LSA lichen sclerosis et atrophicus
LSB left sternal border
LSCS Lower segment Caesarean section
LSCTA lung sounds clear to auscultation
LSIL low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
LST laterally spreading tumor
LR lactated Ringer's solution
LRINEC Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections Score
LRTI lower respiratory tract infection
LT heat-labile enterotoxin
LTAC long-term acute care
LTCS low transverse cesarean section
LUL left upper lobe (of lung)
LUQ left upper quadrant (of abdomen)
LUS lower uterine segment
LUTS lower urinary tract symptoms
LV left ventricle
LVAD left ventricular assist device
LVEDP left ventricular end diastolic pressure
LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction
LVF left ventricular failure
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
LVOT left ventricular outflow tract
LVNC left ventricular noncompaction (see noncompaction cardiomyopathy)
LVP Large volume paracentesis
LWBS left without being seen
Lx of ch laxative of choice
Ly lymphocytes
lytes electrolytes