AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 1988 Third Quarter
Respiratory Failure, 518.81
Note: As of October 1, 1998, respiratory failure has been further specified to indicate acute respiratory failure ( 518.81 ), chronic respiratory failure ( 518.83 ), and acute and chronic respiratory failure ( 518.84 ). Respiratory failure, 518.81 , may be assigned as a principal diagnosis when it is the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning admission to the hospital. The fact that the respiratory failure was managed without intubation and mechanical ventilation does not preclude the use of 518.81 . If the diagnosis is otherwise supported by the contents of the...
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Article Overview
This article provides guidance on respiratory failure documentation and principal diagnosis assignment, with emphasis on how the condition is supported in the record and interpreted in the context of blood gas results and chronic lung disease. It also notes the historical split of respiratory failure into acute, chronic, and acute-and-chronic categories. The content is relevant to coding professionals, CDI staff, and clinicians who document respiratory conditions.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate identification of respiratory failure depends on how the diagnosis is documented and supported, especially when blood gas values are influenced by chronic conditions. The article helps readers understand the broader coding and documentation context for respiratory failure cases.
What You Will Learn
- How respiratory failure is discussed in relation to diagnostic support in the medical record
- How blood gas findings are considered in evaluating respiratory failure
- How chronic lung disease can affect interpretation of respiratory failure documentation
- How the historical classification of respiratory failure changed over time
- How mechanical ventilatory support relates to respiratory failure documentation
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Clinical documentation improvement specialists
- Physicians and other clinicians
- Billing staff
Codes Discussed
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