Understand low oxygen saturation (SpO2) with this guide covering diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and clinical documentation. Learn about hypoxemia, oxygen desaturation, pulse oximetry readings, and relevant medical coding (ICD-10-CM) for accurate healthcare records and improved patient care. Explore resources for managing low blood oxygen levels and proper oxygen therapy administration.
Also known as
Hypoxemia
Low oxygen saturation in the blood.
Respiratory failure
Lungs cannot provide enough oxygen or remove CO2.
Other specified respiratory disorders
Includes conditions like altitude sickness causing low oxygen.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the low oxygen saturation due to a specific underlying condition?
Yes
Is it due to acute respiratory failure?
No
Is it due to altitude sickness?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Low Oxygen Saturation |
Hypoxemia |
Respiratory Distress |
Coding hypoxia without specifying cause (e.g., pneumonia) leads to inaccurate DRG assignment and potential underpayment. CDI crucial for clarification.
Missing or vague documentation of oxygen saturation levels and related symptoms hinders accurate coding and audit defense. CDI queries essential.
Failing to code dependence on supplemental oxygen (e.g., home oxygen) impacts reimbursement and quality reporting. CDI must address this.
Patient presents with low oxygen saturation (hypoxemia), evidenced by SpO2 readings below 90% on room air. Presenting symptoms include dyspnea, shortness of breath, and tachypnea. Patient's respiratory rate is elevated at [insert value] breaths per minute. Oxygen saturation levels were monitored continuously via pulse oximetry. Assessment for underlying causes of hypoxemia included evaluation for pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and pulmonary embolism. Cardiac evaluation was performed to assess for heart failure or other cardiac contributions to the hypoxemia. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis revealed [insert ABG values, e.g., PaO2, PaCO2, pH, bicarbonate]. Treatment plan includes supplemental oxygen therapy via nasal cannula at [insert flow rate] liters per minute to maintain SpO2 above 90%. Patient's response to oxygen therapy will be closely monitored, and further diagnostic testing may be indicated based on clinical course. Differential diagnosis includes conditions such as anemia, sleep apnea, and high altitude sickness. Patient education provided on the importance of oxygen therapy adherence and follow-up care. ICD-10 code [insert appropriate ICD-10 code, e.g., R09.02] applied.