Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
Get to Know Hydrocephalus Dx Codes
Question: Encounter notes indicate a patient has communicating hydrocephalus. What is communicating hydrocephalus, and what is the ICD-10 code for this condition? AAPC Forum Subscriber Answer: You should report communicating hydrocephalus with G91.0 (Communicating hydrocephalus). Communicating hydrocephalus is also known as non-obstructive hydrocephalus. Unlike obstructive hydrocephalus, which is caused by a blockage in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), communicating hydrocephalus occurs when the CSF is not properly absorbed into the bloodstream. The condition can be congenital or acquired later in life due to conditions like meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or brain tumors. Symptoms of communicating hydrocephalus may include headache, nausea, vomiting, cognitive impairment, gait disturbances, and urinary incontinence. The other diagnosis codes in the G91.- (Hydrocephalus) code set are: 
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