Wiki Coding Guideline Interperatation Assistance

[Elsie16]

Good Afternoon,

I'm looking for some help in interoperating this coding guideline ( From Page 108 of the ICD-10-CM manual)

G. Complications of surgery and other medical care
When the admission is for treatment of a complication resulting from surgery or other medical care, the complication code is sequenced as the principal diagnosis. If the complication is classified to the T80-T88 series and the code lacks the necessary specificity in describing the complication, an additional code for the specific complication should be assigned.

Does this mean a code from the T80-T88 category is coded as principal regardless of what other medical diagnoses are present on admission?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

 

[Chelle-Lynn]

Yes, the T-code would be primary if the reason for admission is due to a complication from surgery. All additional codes would follow the T diagnosis code.

 

[Elsie16]

One More Question....

Thanks for your quick response Chelle.

Would that still hold true for the scenario(s) outlined below:

The patient has 2 diagnoses that are both being treated equally as the primary reason for admission (ie, Surgical Wound Dehiscence (T81.31XA) or Non-Healing Amputation Stump (T87.89) on a Wound Vac and Acute Respiratory Failure (J96.00) for which the patient is on Mechanical Ventilation (PCS 5A1.955Z)

Does the guideline dictate the T code must be PDX or can J96.00 be coded as the PDX?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[thomas7331]

This scenario is covered in the guidelines, so either condition may be coded first:

In the unusual instance when two or more diagnoses equally meet the criteria for principal diagnosis as determined by the circumstances of admission, diagnostic workup and/or therapy provided, and the Alphabetic Index, Tabular List, or another coding guidelines does not provide sequencing direction, any one of the diagnoses may be sequenced first.