The ICD-10-CM category I16 includes specific codes for hypertensive crises, allowing coders to distinguish between hypertensive urgency (I16.0), hypertensive emergency (I16.1), and unspecified hypertensive crisis (I16.9). This differentiation facilitates accurate tracking of patients requiring immediate treatment for clinically significant hypertension. Note that accelerated or malignant hypertension should be coded using category I10-I15 instead.
A hypertensive crisis involves a rapid and severe increase in blood pressure, with systolic readings of 180 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic readings of 120 mm Hg or higher. This condition can damage blood vessels, causing them to inflame and potentially leak fluid or blood, which impairs the heart's ability to pump effectively. Immediate evaluation is crucial to assess organ function and determine the appropriate treatment. Even without a hypertension diagnosis, a hypertensive crisis can occur at lower blood pressure levels.
While hypertensive crisis is rare in children, any sudden severe increase in a child’s blood pressure requires immediate intervention to prevent serious consequences.
When documentation supports using a code from category I16 for hypertensive crisis, the sequencing of codes depends on the circumstances of admission or the reason for the encounter. Additionally, coders should include any hypertensive disease codes from category I10-I15.
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