NPO stands for which of the following?

• A. Nothing by mouth consistently
• B. Non Per Os (Nothing by Mouth)
• C. Non Per Os (Nothing by Mouth)
• D. Non per os (nothing by mouth)

Answer: (B)

NPO means no oral intake. The best choice pairs a Latin form with its English meaning, showing both the origin and the practical sense: Non Per Os (Nothing by Mouth). This is the standard way clinicians indicate that a patient should not eat or drink anything by mouth, especially around procedures or anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration. The other options either place an English phrase that doesn’t reflect the abbreviation, add an unwarranted modifier like “consistently,” or use inconsistent capitalization, making them less accurate representations of what NPO stands for.