Procedure Practice 12/15/00 - Feature Articles 12/15/00
   

Procedure Practice 12/15/00:
Coding Recommendations
 

Listed below are the ICD-9-CM codes that we think apply to the examples listed on our Procedure Practice page. If you disagree with our suggestions or have other comments, please send us an e-mail.

Please understand, however, that we cannot answer inquiries
unless they relate directly to our published material.

Suggested Codes

 

Example 1:

The principal diagnosis code is 402.91, Hypertensive heart disease unspecified, with congestive heart failure. Assign 518.81, Acute respiratory failure, as a secondary diagnosis code. Code the mechanical ventilation 96.71, Continuous mechanical ventilation for less than 96 consecutive hours; and assign 96.04, Insertion of endotracheal tube, for the intubation.
 

Example 2:

The principal diagnosis code is 491.21, Obstructive chronic bronchitis with acute exacerbation. Assign 518.81, Acute respiratory failure, as a secondary diagnosis code. Code the mechanical ventilation 96.71, Continuous mechanical ventilation for less than 96 consecutive hours, and assign 96.04, Insertion of endotracheal tube, for the intubation.
  

Example 3:

The principal diagnosis code is 428.1, Left heart failure. The pulmonary edema is a manifestation of the heart failure. No other code is needed.
  

Example 4:

Acute pulmonary edema due to smoke inhalation is coded 506.1, Acute pulmonary edema due to fumes and vapors. This case also requires E-codes to identify the cause of injury. Assign E890.2, Other smoke and fumes from conflagration in private dwelling, and E849.0, Home, for place of occurrence.
  

Example 5:

The principal diagnosis code is 480.9, Viral pneumonia unspecified. Secondary diagnosis codes are 518.4, Acute edema of lung, unspecified, and 515, Oostinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis.
 

Example 6:

The myocardial infarction is the principal diagnosis. Assign 410.11, Acute myocardial infarction of other anterior wall, with a secondary diagnosis code of 518.81, Acute respiratory failure. Code the mechanical ventilation 96.72, Continuous mechanical ventilation for 96 consecutive hours or more, and 96.04, Insertion of endotracheal tube, for the endotracheal intubation.
  

Example 7:

The principal diagnosis is 518.81, Acute respiratory failure. Code 358.0, Myasthenia gravis, is coded as a secondary diagnosis.
  

Example 8:

Assign 398.91, Rheumatic heart failure (congestive), and 396.1, Mitral valve stenosis and aortic valve insufficiency, to correctly code this case.
 

Example 9:

Assign 511.9, Unspecified pleural effusion, as the principal diagnosis for this case. Code the thoracentesis 34.91, Other operations on thorax: thoracentesis.
 

Example 10:

The principal diagnosis is 518.81, Acute respiratory failure. Secondary diagnoses are 482.84, Pneumonia due to other specified bacteria, Legionnaires’ disease; 425.4, Other primary cardiomyopathies; and 428.0, Congestive heart failure. The pleural effusion is a chronic finding associated with the CHF and, therefore, is not coded. Assign 31.1, Temporary tracheostomy, for the emergency tracheostomy, and 96.72, Continuous mechanical ventilation for 96 consecutive hours or more, for the mechanical ventilation.
  

Procedure Practice 12/15/00 - Feature Articles 12/15/00