Wiki COPD question

[srich64]

Hi everyone -
Your thoughts on this discharge diagnosis please.

Discharge diagnoses: COPD
CHF
Pneumonia
Emphysema
Mild dementia




In my mind the emphysema is included in the COPD - but I'd like another opinion.
Thanks

 

[Anna Weaver]

Copd

I agree, Emphysema is included in COPD:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html

In the United States, the term "COPD" includes two main conditions—emphysema (em-fi-SE-ma) and chronic obstructive bronchitis (bron-KI-tis).

In emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs are damaged, causing them to lose their shape and become floppy. This damage also can destroy the walls of the air sacs, leading to fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones.

In chronic obstructive bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly irritated and inflamed. This causes the lining to thicken. Lots of thick mucus forms in the airways, making it hard to breathe.

Most people who have COPD have both emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Thus, the general term "COPD" is more accurate.

 

[srich64]

Thank you.........

 

[lring]

COPD diagnosis

The ICD-9 guidelines give you specific info on this - bronchitis, asthma and emphysema are COPD and the GL's give you great guidance on sequencing and when to use which codes.

The GL's are in my Ingenix 2009 ICD-9 Expert page 10-Coding Guidelines, chapter 8 in the front of the book. You can also get them online http://www.ahacentraloffice.org/.