AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2010 Quarter 4; VOLUMES 1 & 2 NEW/REVISED CODES
Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE) in Infant
A two-week-old child, who was born prematurely at 33 weeks gestation, was admitted after the mother had witnessed an apparent life-threatening event. The baby appeared to turn blue and developed choking after feeding. The airway was cleared and the child was stimulated vigorously by paramedics before rushing her to the hospital. The baby was admitted and the provider's final diagnostic statement indicated, "Likely apparent life-threatening event with obstructive apnea due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)." What are the diagnosis code assignments? ...
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Article Overview
This article covers diagnosis coding guidance for an apparent life-threatening event in an infant, including how the topic is addressed in ICD-9-CM and how documentation context affects reporting. It is aimed at coding professionals, CDI staff, and clinicians who need to understand how the documentation is interpreted within a coding workflow. The article also presents an example scenario involving newborn symptoms and an associated clinical condition, but the premium content should be consulted for the full discussion.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate identification of the documented event and related conditions can affect diagnosis assignment, sequencing, and record consistency in newborn and infant cases.
What You Will Learn
- How the topic of apparent life-threatening events in infants is addressed in diagnosis coding guidance.
- How documentation context influences whether the event is reported in addition to other diagnoses.
- How an infant case example is used to illustrate coding considerations.
- The relationship between the article’s guidance and newborn-related diagnosis reporting.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation integrity specialists
- Healthcare billing staff
- Clinicians involved in documentation
Codes Discussed
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