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Ask ACDIS: Know when to query for postop acute respiratory failure

Q: Are there any coding guidelines/definitions regarding code 518.5 (Pulmonary insufficiency following trauma and surgery) vs. the use of 518.81 (Acute respiratory failure postop)? If a physician documents postop respiratory failure, which code should we report? I looked in Coding Clinic and found a definition for acute respiratory failure, but I don’t see a definition/guideline for 518.5. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

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