IVP

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

IVP
Stands forIntravenous push
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical

IVP has two meanings. It stands for Intravenous push (medication route) or Intravenous pyelogram (medical imaging).

Meanings of IVP at a glance

#IVP stands forContext
1Intravenous pushMedical › Medication Route
2Intravenous pyelogramMedical › Medical Imaging

1. Intravenous push

Medical · Medication Route Abbreviations

Injection of a medication from a syringe directly into an IV line or catheter over a short period, usually seconds to a few minutes. It is used when a rapid effect is needed, for example furosemide, ondansetron, morphine or adenosine.

Example: Metoprolol 5 mg IVP over 2 minutes; hold for HR below 60.

ISMP published Safe Practice Guidelines for Adult IV Push Medications in 2015, discouraging nurses from diluting drugs in syringes outside the pharmacy and recommending ready-to-administer products. Push rates matter: phenytoin and potassium can be fatal if pushed too fast, and potassium chloride must never be given by IV push. In radiology, IVP means intravenous pyelogram.

2. Intravenous pyelogram

Medical · Medical Imaging Abbreviations

Series of abdominal X-rays taken after intravenous iodinated contrast is excreted by the kidneys, outlining the renal collecting systems, ureters and bladder. Once the standard test for kidney stones and blood in the urine, it has been largely replaced by CT urography and non-contrast CT.

Example: Prior IVP from 1998 showed a duplicated left collecting system.

Also called intravenous urography (IVU), the more accurate name because it images the whole urinary tract. Older patients may still have IVP results in their records. The exam required bowel preparation and could take an hour or more, compared with minutes for CT.

More medication route abbreviations

  • IO – Intraosseous
  • IP – Intraperitoneal
  • IT – Intrathecal
  • IV – Intravenous
  • IVPB – Intravenous piggyback
  • NEB – Nebulizer, nebulized
  • NG – Nasogastric
  • NJ – Nasojejunal

See all 41 medication route abbreviations →

More medical imaging abbreviations

  • GBCA – Gadolinium-based contrast agent
  • HRCT – High-resolution computed tomography
  • HSG – Hysterosalpingogram
  • HU – Hounsfield unit
  • Lat – Lateral
  • LDCT – Low-dose computed tomography
  • LI-RADS – Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System
  • Lung-RADS – Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System

See all 58 medical imaging abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.