NABS
Medical abbreviation · Patient Assessment
| Stands for | Normoactive bowel sounds |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
NABS stands for Normoactive bowel sounds, a patient assessment abbreviation.
Abdominal auscultation finding of normal gurgling bowel sounds, roughly every few seconds, indicating ordinary intestinal activity. It contrasts with hypoactive, hyperactive or absent sounds.
Example: Abd soft, NABS x4 quadrants, tolerating diet.
Usage notes
Sometimes expanded as "normal active bowel sounds". Bowel sounds are a weak predictor of serious disease on their own, so they are interpreted with pain, distension and passage of flatus. Listening before palpating avoids stimulating the bowel and altering the sounds.
Related abbreviations
More patient assessment abbreviations
- LOC – Level of consciousness
- LUE – Left upper extremity
- MAE – Moves all extremities
- MAEW – Moves all extremities well
- MEWS – Modified Early Warning Score
- MMM – Moist mucous membranes
- NCAT – Normocephalic, atraumatic
- NEWS2 – National Early Warning Score 2
- NIBP – Noninvasive blood pressure
- NRS – Numeric rating scale
- NT/ND – Nontender, nondistended
- NVI – Neurovascularly intact
See all 65 patient assessment abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.