AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2011 Issue 4; VOLUMES 1 & 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Respiratory Failure Following Trauma and Surgery
Effective October 1, 2011, codes 518.51, Acute respiratory failure following trauma and surgery; 518.52, Other pulmonary insufficiency, not elsewhere classified; and 518.53, Acute and chronic respiratory failure following trauma and surgery, have been created to distinguish postoperative acute respiratory failure from less severe respiratory conditions such as shock lung, drowned lung, pulmonary and lung insufficiency following shock, surgery or trauma, wet lung syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome (following shock, surgery, or trauma) and acute idiopathic lung congestion; conditions that only require supplemental oxygen or intensified observation. Respiratory failure is a relatively common postoperative complication that often...
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Article Overview
This article covers an ICD-9-CM update effective October 1, 2011, focused on respiratory failure and pulmonary insufficiency after trauma or surgery. It is relevant to coders, CDI staff, and compliance teams who work with postoperative complications, trauma cases, and diagnosis code selection. The discussion addresses newly created diagnosis categories, deleted legacy terminology, and related exclusion references in the respiratory system chapter.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate assignment of postoperative and trauma-related respiratory diagnoses affects clinical reporting, data integrity, and correct distinction between more severe respiratory failure and less severe pulmonary conditions. The article helps readers understand the scope of the ICD-9-CM revision and the related terminology changes that support cleaner documentation and coding.
Article Sections
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Effective date and overview of the ICD-9-CM update
Introduces the effective date and summarizes the respiratory diagnosis update being discussed.
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Clinical context for postoperative and trauma-related respiratory failure
Provides general background on respiratory failure after surgery or trauma, including common clinical circumstances and contributing factors.
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Code revisions and related exclusions
Lists the affected pulmonary insufficiency category, deleted terminology, new diagnosis categories, and associated exclusion references.
What You Will Learn
- The scope of the respiratory diagnosis update effective October 1, 2011
- How the article groups postoperative and trauma-related respiratory conditions
- Which legacy terminology is being removed or revised
- What kinds of related exclusion references accompany the update
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Clinical documentation improvement specialists
- Compliance staff
- Billing professionals
- Health information management teams
Codes Discussed
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