Respiratory failure, unspecified, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
ICD-10 code J96.01 for Acute respiratory failure with hypoxia is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Diseases of the respiratory system. Subscribe to Codify and get the code details in a flash. Request a Demo 14 Day Free Trial Buy Now
Post-procedural Respiratory Failure Code J95.821 is reported when respiratory failure follows surgery; Code J95.822 is reported when respiratory failure follows surgery and the patient has known/documented chronic respiratory failure; Four classification types for ARF. Hypoxic – most common Common acute symptoms: Tachycardia; SOB; Rapid breathing; Confusion
Look for documented signs / symptoms of: SOB (shortness of breath) Delirium and/or anxiety. Syncope. Use of accessory muscles / poor air movement.
Very seldom is it a simple cut and dry diagnosis. There always seems to be just enough gray to give coders on any given day some doubt. It’s not only important for a coder to be familiar with the guidelines associated with respiratory failure but they should also be aware of the basic clinical indicators as well.
A patient with a chronic lung disease such as COPD may have an abnormal ABG level that could actually be considered that particular patient’s baseline.
Acute or Acute on Chronic Respiratory Failure may be assigned as a principal diagnosis when it is the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission to the hospital, and the selection is supported by the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List. However, chapter-specific coding guidelines (such as obstetrics, poisoning, HIV, newborn) that provide sequencing direction take precedence.