Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Question: I am struggling with the codes for abnormal forces of labor. Which code should I use for failure to dilate in active phase of labor - 661.0x or 661.1x? And what if the diagnosis is "failure to descend"?


Massachusetts Subscriber
 

Answer: The failure to dilate would be primary inertia (661.0x, Abnormality of forces of labor; primary uterine inertia). Failure to descend can be caused by any number of problems: failure of uterine contractions that help move the fetus into position, an obstruction or malposition of the fetus, and so on. You would have to know the cause before you can code for it.

Note: Primary inertia means that the uterus fails to contract and retract normally at the onset of labor. Secondary uterine inertia (661.1x), on the other hand, means a failure of the uterus to maintain normal contractions and retractions after labor has been in progress for a while.