SBS

Abbreviation with 5 meanings

SBS
Stands forShaken baby syndrome
Meanings5
CategoriesMedical, Military, Organizations & Companies

SBS has five meanings. The most common are Shaken baby syndrome (pediatric & neonatal) and Short bowel syndrome (gastroenterology); it can also stand for Special Boat Service, Seoul Broadcasting System and Special Broadcasting Service.

Meanings of SBS at a glance

#SBS stands forContext
1Shaken baby syndromeMedical › Pediatric & Neonatal
2Short bowel syndromeMedical › Gastroenterology
3Special Boat ServiceMilitary › Military Unit and Organization
4Seoul Broadcasting SystemOrganizations & Companies › Media and Broadcasting
5Special Broadcasting ServiceOrganizations & Companies › Media and Broadcasting

1. Shaken baby syndrome

Medical · Pediatric & Neonatal Abbreviations

Older term for brain injury inflicted by violently shaking an infant, causing bleeding around the brain and in the retinas. Medical organizations now prefer abusive head trauma, but SBS remains common in public awareness campaigns and legal cases.

Example: Prenatal class covered SBS prevention and coping with infant crying.

Pediatric radiologist John Caffey described "whiplash shaken infant syndrome" in the early 1970s. Some criminal cases relying on the classic triad have been disputed in court. In gastroenterology SBS means short bowel syndrome, a completely different meaning.

2. Short bowel syndrome

Medical · Gastroenterology Abbreviations

Malabsorption that follows extensive loss of small intestine, usually when less than about 200 cm remains, from resections for Crohn's disease, mesenteric ischemia, volvulus or necrotizing enterocolitis. Patients may need parenteral nutrition, antidiarrheals and the intestinal growth factor teduglutide.

Example: SBS with 90 cm small bowel and end jejunostomy; home PN five nights weekly.

Outcome depends on remaining length, whether the colon and ileocecal valve are preserved, and the adaptation that occurs over the first two years. Intestinal failure is the most severe end of the spectrum. In pediatrics SBS can instead mean shaken baby syndrome, now usually called abusive head trauma.

3. Special Boat Service

Military · Military Unit and Organization Abbreviations

Special forces unit of the Royal Navy, drawn mainly from the Royal Marines, specializing in maritime counterterrorism, ship boarding, beach reconnaissance and raids. It is based in Poole, Dorset.

Example: SBS operators boarded the tanker off the Isle of Wight and detained seven stowaways.

The SBS traces its origins to the Special Boat Section raised in 1940. It is the Royal Navy's counterpart to the Army's Special Air Service and works closely with it under UK Special Forces. In broadcasting, SBS is Australia's Special Broadcasting Service.

4. Seoul Broadcasting System

Organizations & Companies · Media and Broadcasting Abbreviations

South Korean commercial television and radio network, one of the country's three major broadcasters with KBS and MBC, known for dramas, variety shows and music program Inkigayo.

Example: The drama airs Fridays on SBS in Korea and streams worldwide.

Founded in 1990 and began television broadcasting in 1991. Its year-end Gayo Daejeon music festival is a major K-pop event. In Australia SBS means the Special Broadcasting Service.

5. Special Broadcasting Service

Organizations & Companies · Media and Broadcasting Abbreviations

Australian public broadcaster providing multilingual and multicultural radio, television and online services, including SBS World News and coverage of the FIFA World Cup and Tour de France.

Example: SBS will show every World Cup match live in Australia.

Began as radio stations broadcasting in multiple languages in 1975 and launched television in 1980. It is funded partly by the government and partly by advertising, unlike the ABC. In South Korea SBS means the Seoul Broadcasting System.

More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations

  • PPHN – Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
  • PVL – Periventricular leukomalacia
  • ROP – Retinopathy of prematurity
  • RV – Rotavirus vaccine
  • SIDS – Sudden infant death syndrome
  • SUID – Sudden unexpected infant death
  • T21 – Trisomy 21
  • TcB – Transcutaneous bilirubin

See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →

More gastroenterology abbreviations

  • RYGB – Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
  • SBFT – Small bowel follow-through
  • SBO – Small bowel obstruction
  • SBP – Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
  • SIBO – Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
  • TIPS – Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
  • tTG – Tissue transglutaminase (antibody test)
  • UC – Ulcerative colitis

See all 85 gastroenterology abbreviations →

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