Question

When do you code acute respiratory failure as a secondary diagnosis

a. the patient has any other condition at the same time
b. When it is determined to be the cause of the shortness of breath
c. Acute respiratory failure is always listed first
d. When it occurs after admission

Answer 1

Acute respiratory failure should be coded as a secondary diagnosis when it arises after admission, not as the primary reason for the patient's hospital stay. The correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to coding acute respiratory failure as a secondary diagnosis in medical documentation. Acute respiratory failure should be coded as a secondary diagnosis when it occurs after admission and is not the primary reason for the admission to the healthcare facility.

Acute respiratory failure is a critical condition signified by the inability of the respiratory system to maintain adequate gas exchange, represented by low blood oxygen levels and high blood carbon dioxide levels.

This condition can result from various respiratory diseases, including but not limited to Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), which primarily affects premature infants due to insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), often related to tobacco smoking.

To summarize the coding guidelines, acute respiratory failure is coded as a secondary diagnosis only when it is not the primary cause of the admission and is instead a complication or development that occurs during the hospital stay.