Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: An infant patient stopped breathing at four minutes of age and had to be resuscitated. The physician's notes state, "He was vigorously stimulated and blow by oxygen and suctioning, remained in intermittent breathing and increase in heart rate greater than 100." The infant eventually began breathing again, with grunting. Should I report 770.87 or 770.89 for the condition?

Massachusetts Subscriber

Answer: ICD-9 770.87 (Respiratory arrest of newborn) is more specific than 770.89 (Other respiratory problems after birth), so you should code the former. Airway obstruction, decreased respiratory drive, or respiratory muscle weakness usually cause respiratory arrest. If respiratory arrest is prolonged, cardiac arrest quickly follows because progressive hypoxia impairs cardiac function.