What does 'NPO' stand for in patient instructions?

What does 'NPO' stand for in patient instructions?

• A. Nothing by mouth
• B. Nil per os (nothing by mouth)
• C. Not prescribed orally
• D. Normal oral intake allowed

Answer: (B)

Nil per os means nothing by mouth. It’s the standard Latin expansion used on patient instructions to indicate no oral intake. This is important before anesthesia or certain procedures to reduce the risk of aspiration and to keep the stomach empty for accurate test results. While the English phrase “Nothing by mouth” conveys the same idea, the medical abbreviation is typically given in Latin. The other phrasings don’t reflect the same instruction and thus aren’t the proper expansion of NPO.

Nil per os means nothing by mouth. It’s the standard Latin expansion used on patient instructions to indicate no oral intake. This is important before anesthesia or certain procedures to reduce the risk of aspiration and to keep the stomach empty for accurate test results. While the English phrase “Nothing by mouth” conveys the same idea, the medical abbreviation is typically given in Latin. The other phrasings don’t reflect the same instruction and thus aren’t the proper expansion of NPO.