AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2026 Issue 2; Ask the Editor
Hyperlactatemia
A patient admitted with acute lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleed was found to have acute diffuse ischemic colitis of the large intestine. The patient was also noted to have an elevated lactate level that was monitored throughout the admission. The provider documented hyperlactatemia secondary to ischemic colitis as the final diagnosis. When referencing “Lactate, elevated” in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index, there is an instruction to “see Acidosis, lactic.” This instruction leads to code E87.20, Acidosis, unspecified. Is it appropriate to assign code E87.20 when the documentation does not support a diagnosis of acidosis? What is the appropriate ICD-10-CM code assignment for hyperlactatemia? ...
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