Janet Simpson's request for translations of medical acronyms brought up an
old memory.  When Peter was in the intensive care nursery at Riley
Children's Hospital in Indianapolis after birth, he was on total IV
nutrition for 10 days before his intestinal surgery and 3 days after.  I had
been pumping and freezing milk for him.  We lived an hour away and had a 4
year old and I had had complications after birth, so we weren't able to be
up at the hospital every day, but the nurses were supposed to call us every
night at 8 and tell us how he was.  Many nights they didn't call, and we had
to call them.  One night I called and the nurse said "Oh, hello.  Peter PO'd
today."  She had a very flat affect (no emotion in her voice) and I assumed
the worst.  "He died?"  "No, he PO'd."  "What the hell does *that* mean?" I
screamed into the phone.  "It means he took food by mouth" (you stupid
idiot, her tone added).  That *still* rankles.

So, Janet, NPO means no food by mouth!  PO means food/liquid/medicine by mouth!

Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Texas A&M University
e-mail to [log in to unmask]