IVC
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Inferior vena cava |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
IVC has two meanings. It stands for Inferior vena cava (cardiology) or Involuntary commitment (mental health & psychiatry).
Meanings of IVC at a glance
| # | IVC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inferior vena cava | Medical › Cardiology |
| 2 | Involuntary commitment | Medical › Mental Health & Psychiatry |
1. Inferior vena cava
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Largest vein in the body, returning blood from the legs, pelvis and abdomen to the right atrium. Its diameter and collapse with breathing on ultrasound help estimate fluid status and right atrial pressure, and IVC filters can be placed in it to trap leg clots.
Example: Bedside ultrasound: IVC 2.4 cm with less than 50% collapse, suggesting elevated right atrial pressure.
IVC filters are mainly used when a patient with acute DVT or PE cannot be anticoagulated; the FDA has urged removal of retrievable filters once no longer needed because long-term complications include fracture, migration and DVT. Its upper counterpart, draining the head and arms, is the superior vena cava (SVC). Do not confuse with IVCD, an ECG conduction finding.
2. Involuntary commitment
Medical · Mental Health & Psychiatry Abbreviations
Legal process for admitting or holding a person for psychiatric evaluation or treatment against their will, generally when mental illness makes them dangerous to themselves or others or unable to care for basic needs. Criteria, time limits and court review differ by state.
Example: IVC papers filed by magistrate; patient to be evaluated by two physicians within 24 hours.
The abbreviation is especially common in North Carolina and some other states' records. The 1975 US Supreme Court case O'Connor v. Donaldson held that a state cannot confine a nondangerous person who can live safely in freedom. In most hospital notes IVC means inferior vena cava, the large vein returning blood to the heart.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- iFR – Instantaneous wave-free ratio
- IHD – Ischemic heart disease
- ILR – Implantable loop recorder
- ISR – In-stent restenosis
- IVCD – Intraventricular conduction delay
- IVUS – Intravascular ultrasound
- JVD – Jugular venous distension
- JVP – Jugular venous pressure
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
More mental health & psychiatry abbreviations
- ID – Intellectual disability
- IED – Intermittent explosive disorder
- IOP – Intensive outpatient program
- IPT – Interpersonal psychotherapy
- LAI – Long-acting injectable
- MAT – Medication-assisted treatment
- MDD – Major depressive disorder
- MDE – Major depressive episode
See all 100 mental health & psychiatry abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.