Wiki Respiratory Distress??

[brodel]

I recently attended a seminar and the presenter suggested to use acute respiratory failure, 518.81 when the diagnosis read "acute respiratory distress". I usually use code 786.09 for the resp. distress but she suggested not to use that code and said they were "one in the same". Any thoughts?

 

[EmilyC]

If you look at the code description under acute respiratory failure 518.81 it excludes respiratory distress which is 518.82

 

[brodel]

Thank you!