Billable Medical Code for Other Respiratory Abnormalities
Diagnosis Code for Reimbursement Claim: ICD-9-CM 786.09
Code will be replaced by October 2015 and relabeled as ICD-10-CM 786.09.
The Short Description Is: Respiratory abnorm NEC.
Known As
Respiratory distress is also known as abnormal airflow, abnormal breath sounds, abnormal distribution of ventilation, breathless – mild exertion, breathless – moderate exertion, breathless – strenuous exertion, chronic respiratory insufficiency, cluster breathing, crowing respiration, difficulty breathing, difficulty controlling breathing, difficulty expectorating, hissing respiration, hypercapnia, hypercarbia chronic, irregular breathing, Kussmaul’s respiration, labored breathing, winded, yawning, and yawning absent. This excludes respiratory distress: following trauma and surgery (518.52), newborn (770.89), syndrome (newborn) (769), and adult (518.52). This applies to respiratory: distress and insufficiency.
Respiratory Distress Definition and Symptoms
Respiratory distress is a condition typically brought on by other serious illness, that causes the blood vessels in the lungs to leak more fluid than normal in the lungs air sacs. This excess fluid prevents the lungs from filling completely with air. Symptoms include dyspnea, pulmonary hypertension, severe hypoxaemia, and rapid breathing.