Urgent:"Primary Diag" question

[jsd123]

Pt presents to ER following attempted suicide via Valium ODand experiencing severe hypotension from the overdose (pt tried suicide due to depression from colon cancer diag)

I say the primary diag is the Valium poisoning but a colleague believes it is the hypotension. (of course there's the depression & cancer also!)

What should the PRIMARY diag be?

Thanks!

Janice

[PURNIMA]

Janice,

You are correct.

When coding for poisoning, the poisoning code is sequenced first, followed by a code for the manifestation- as documented in the ICD coding guidelines. In this case Valium OD is sequenced followed by hypotension, a manifestation of Valium poisoning.

Thank You,

Purnima S, CPC

[jsd123]

Ty!!!!!!! :-) :-)