Question

43-year-old Stella Somerset was brought to the ER with severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain, elevated white blood cell count, and nausea. She was admitted with a possibly acute appendicitis and taken to surgery where an appendectomy was performed.

Questions:

1. What is the correct diagnosis code assigned for this case?
2. What coding guideline applies to this scenario?

3. Why does this coding guideline apply to this scenario?

Answer 1

ANSWER.

* Correct diagnosis code assigned for this case is

            * ICD-10-CM Code

                    * K35.80 - Acute appendicitis.

* Coding guideline applies to this scenario.

            * Guideline applies to this situation is general coding guideline which

               describes, if the patient is diagnosed with a medical condition and he

               or she manifest signs and symptoms of that same medical condition

               then only assign code for the medical condition or principle diagnosis,

               unless otherwise instructed by the classification.

* Reason for above guideline apply to this scenario.

            * This patient is admitted into the hospital with the complaints

               of Severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain,elevated WBC's

               and nausea which are the signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis.

               So when coding this scenario only assign code for principle diagnosis

               (Acute appendicitis) and should not assign codes for signs and symptoms.