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K72.90
ICD-10-CM
Liver Failure

Find comprehensive information on liver failure diagnosis, including ICD-10 codes K72.9 and K71.7, clinical documentation best practices, diagnostic criteria, and stages of liver disease. Learn about hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, varices, and other related conditions. This resource supports healthcare professionals with accurate medical coding, optimized clinical documentation improvement, and efficient patient care for liver failure. Explore liver function tests (LFTs), MELD score interpretation, and management strategies.

Also known as

Hepatic Failure
Liver Insufficiency

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Loss of liver function impacting essential metabolic processes.
  • Clinical Signs : Jaundice, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, easy bruising, fatigue.
  • Common Settings : Hospital inpatient, ICU, liver transplant center.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC K72.90 Coding
K72.9

Liver failure, unspecified

Liver is unable to perform its normal functions.

K72.1

Acute and subacute liver failure

Sudden or rapid decline in liver function.

K72.0

Acute liver failure

Sudden and severe loss of liver function.

K70.3

Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver

End-stage liver disease due to chronic alcohol abuse.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the liver failure acute?

  • Yes

    Is it due to drug/toxin?

  • No

    Is it chronic?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Liver Failure
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Ascites

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Liver failure diagnosis documentation
  • ICD-10-CM K72.9 Liver failure NOS
  • Document etiology of liver failure
  • Severity (acute, chronic, decompensated)
  • Liver function tests (LFTs) results
  • Symptoms, ascites, encephalopathy

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Etiology

    Coding liver failure without specifying the cause (e.g., alcohol, hepatitis) leads to inaccurate severity and reimbursement.

  • Acute vs. Chronic Confusion

    Miscoding acute-on-chronic or chronic liver failure impacts quality metrics and DRG assignment. CDI clarification is crucial.

  • Comorbidity Documentation

    Insufficient documentation of associated conditions like hepatic encephalopathy or ascites impacts risk adjustment and coding accuracy.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • ICD-10-CM K72.9, document etiology for liver failure.
  • HCC coding: Capture comorbidities impacting liver failure.
  • CDI: Query physician for precise liver failure stage.
  • Compliance: Adhere to MELD score criteria for transplant listing.
  • Document treatment plan, including medications and procedures.

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • 1. Elevated bilirubin, INR Document per ICD-10 K72.9
  • 2. Hepatic encephalopathy signs Document neurological status
  • 3. Ascites, edema present Document fluid retention evidence
  • 4. Coagulopathy, varices Assess bleeding risk, document

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Liver Failure reimbursement hinges on accurate ICD-10-CM K72.9 coding and appropriate DRG assignment for optimal payment.
  • Quality metrics for Liver Failure include Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score reporting, impacting hospital performance.
  • Timely and specific documentation of etiology and complications (e.g., ascites, encephalopathy) influences Liver Failure reimbursement.
  • Coding validation and physician query processes improve Liver Failure coding accuracy, impacting case mix index and hospital revenue.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes for . Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code primary liver failure diagnosis
  • Document etiology, severity, complications
  • Use ICD-10-CM K72.9 for unspecified
  • Consider secondary diagnoses like ascites, encephalopathy
  • Z94.4 for liver transplant status

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with symptoms consistent with liver failure (hepatic failure, end-stage liver disease, ESLD).  Presenting complaints include jaundice, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and fatigue.  Physical examination reveals scleral icterus, abdominal distension with shifting dullness suggestive of ascites, and asterixis.  Patient reports a history of [Insert underlying cause e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, etc.].  Laboratory findings demonstrate elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP), bilirubin (direct and indirect), prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR), decreased albumin, and elevated ammonia levels.  Diagnostic imaging, including abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, may be indicated to assess liver morphology and rule out other contributing factors.  Diagnosis of liver failure is based on clinical presentation, laboratory data, and imaging findings.  Treatment plan includes management of complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and variceal bleeding.  Nutritional support, including a low-sodium diet and vitamin supplementation, is indicated.  Pharmacological interventions may include lactulose for hepatic encephalopathy and diuretics for ascites.  Referral for liver transplantation evaluation will be considered based on disease severity and eligibility criteria.  Patient education regarding disease progression, prognosis, and treatment options was provided.  Follow-up appointments are scheduled for monitoring of liver function and management of complications.  ICD-10 code K72.9 (Liver failure, unspecified) and relevant procedure codes will be documented for medical billing and coding purposes.
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