PAC
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Political action committee |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Medical |
PAC has three meanings. The most common are Political action committee (political) and Premature atrial contraction (cardiology); it can also stand for Pulmonary artery catheter.
Meanings of PAC at a glance
| # | PAC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Political action committee | Government & Politics › Political |
| 2 | Premature atrial contraction | Medical › Cardiology |
| 3 | Pulmonary artery catheter | Medical › Cardiology |
1. Political action committee
Government & Politics · Political Abbreviations
Organization that pools contributions to donate to candidates, parties or other committees, or to spend on elections. A traditional multicandidate PAC can give up to $5,000 per election to a federal candidate and may accept up to $5,000 a year from an individual.
Example: Her campaign refuses donations from corporate PACs.
The first PAC was formed by the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1943 so unions could support candidates despite limits on direct union contributions. Corporations and unions still cannot give directly to federal candidates but can sponsor "connected" PACs funded by employees or members. Leadership PACs let politicians fund colleagues' campaigns.
2. Premature atrial contraction
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Early heartbeat triggered from a spot in the atria rather than the sinus node, appearing on the ECG as an early, abnormally shaped P wave. PACs are very common in healthy people and are often provoked by caffeine, alcohol, stress or lack of sleep.
Example: Rhythm strip shows sinus rhythm with occasional PACs; reassured and advised to cut back on energy drinks.
Also called atrial premature complexes (APC) or premature atrial beats. Frequent PACs are associated with a higher future risk of atrial fibrillation, and in AF the triggering beats often originate in the pulmonary veins. In critical care PAC can also mean pulmonary artery catheter, and in politics a political action committee.
3. Pulmonary artery catheter
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Balloon-tipped catheter inserted through a central vein into the pulmonary artery to measure right heart pressures, wedge pressure, cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation. It is used in cardiogenic shock, advanced heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and cardiac surgery.
Example: PAC placed in the CCU to guide inotrope titration in mixed shock.
Universally known as the Swan-Ganz catheter after Jeremy Swan and William Ganz, who introduced it in 1970. After trials in the 2000s found no outcome benefit from routine use in general ICU patients, use declined, although interest has returned in cardiogenic shock programs. In rhythm notes PAC usually means premature atrial contraction.
Related abbreviations
More political abbreviations
- NIMBY – Not in my backyard
- NRCC – National Republican Congressional Committee
- NRSC – National Republican Senatorial Committee
- NSA – National Security Advisor
- PEOTUS – President-elect of the United States
- POTUS – President of the United States
- PR – Proportional representation
- Prop – Proposition
See all 91 political abbreviations →
More cardiology abbreviations
- NYHA – New York Heart Association
- OH – Orthostatic hypotension
- OM – Obtuse marginal artery
- OPCAB – Off-pump coronary artery bypass
- PAD – Peripheral artery disease
- PAF – Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- PCI – Percutaneous coronary intervention
- PCWP – Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.