You Be the Coder:
Steer Clear of Dyspnea Pitfall
Published on Wed Jan 27, 2010
Question: Should I report paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea using one of the sleep apnea (327.2x) codes? North Carolina Subscriber Answer: No. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (786.09, Dyspnea and respiratory abnormalities; other) involves the patient waking at night with a feeling of suffocation, typically because of pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs) from sleeping in the reclined position. This condition is a classic system of heart failure. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea may occur in valvular heart disease, hypertension, or other conditions affecting the left ventricle. Term tip: The prefix "dys-" means difficult. This knowledge can help you remember to consider a "dyspnea" code for difficulty breathing. On the other hand, the prefix "a-" means "without." Hence, a sleep "apnea" code from 327.2x (Organic sleep apnea) refers to cessation of breathing.
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