Understand hypochloremia diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment. Find information on low chloride levels, chloride blood test, metabolic alkalosis, electrolyte imbalance, and related ICD-10 codes for accurate clinical documentation and medical coding. Learn about hypochloremia management, including fluid replacement therapy and dietary adjustments. Explore resources for healthcare professionals covering diagnosis, treatment, and lab values associated with hypochloremia.
Also known as
Hypochloremia
Low chloride levels in the blood.
Volume depletion
Conditions causing fluid loss, potentially leading to hypochloremia.
Hypochloremic alkalosis
Elevated blood pH and low chloride, often due to vomiting.
Other abnormal findings of blood chemistry
May include hypochloremia if not specified elsewhere.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is hypochloremia due to a drug (medicinal)?
Yes
Is the drug documented?
No
Is it due to metabolic alkalosis?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Low chloride levels in the blood. |
Low sodium levels in the blood. |
Metabolic alkalosis, low blood acidity. |
Coding E87.7 (Hypochloremia) without specificity when a more precise cause is documented leads to inaccurate data and potential DRG misassignment.
Failing to code underlying conditions contributing to Hypochloremia (e.g., vomiting, diuretics) impacts risk adjustment and quality reporting.
Discrepancies between lab results indicating Hypochloremia and physician documentation create coding ambiguity and compliance concerns.
Patient presents with signs and symptoms suggestive of hypochloremia, a low chloride level. Presenting complaints include muscle weakness, twitching, or cramps, fatigue, and in severe cases, confusion or seizures. Relevant medical history includes recent vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating, potential causes of chloride loss. Current medications include diuretics, which may contribute to electrolyte imbalances. Physical examination reveals potential signs of dehydration, such as dry mucous membranes. Laboratory results confirm low serum chloride levels below the normal reference range. Differential diagnoses considered include metabolic alkalosis, cystic fibrosis, and Addison's disease. Diagnosis of hypochloremia is established based on clinical presentation, history, and laboratory findings. Treatment plan includes addressing the underlying cause of chloride loss and correcting the electrolyte imbalance with oral or intravenous chloride supplementation, as indicated. Patient education provided regarding the importance of hydration, dietary chloride intake, and medication management. Follow-up laboratory testing scheduled to monitor chloride levels and treatment efficacy. ICD-10 code E87.1, electrolyte disturbance, is documented for medical billing and coding purposes. Patient's prognosis is good with appropriate management and treatment.