Find comprehensive information on Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (LGIB) diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding, and healthcare guidelines. Learn about LGIB symptoms, causes, treatment, and relevant ICD-10 codes like K92.2. Explore resources for healthcare professionals on documenting LGIB, managing lower GI bleeding, and ensuring accurate coding for optimal reimbursement. This resource covers hematochezia, melena, colonoscopy, angiography, and other key terms related to Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage diagnosis and management.
Also known as
Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Bleeding from the lower digestive tract.
Vascular disorders of intestine
Conditions affecting blood flow in the intestines, which can cause bleeding.
Anal and rectal fissures and ulcers
Tears or sores in the anus or rectum, potential bleeding sources.
Acute appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix, which may cause bleeding if ruptured.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the location of the LGIB specified?
Yes
Small intestine bleed?
No
Is it from diverticulosis?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Lower GI bleed |
| Diverticulosis of colon |
| Angiodysplasia of colon |
Coding LGIB without specifying location (e.g., colon, rectum) leads to inaccurate DRG assignment and potential underpayment. CDI should query for site.
Overlooking documentation of melena or hematochezia can impact severity coding and reimbursement. CDI should ensure accurate capture of these findings.
Coding LGIB without diagnostic confirmation (e.g., endoscopy, imaging) can raise audit flags. CDI should clarify diagnostic methods used.
Patient presents with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), characterized by hematochezia, melena, or rectal bleeding. Onset, duration, and frequency of bleeding episodes documented. Associated symptoms, including abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, fatigue, and changes in bowel habits, are detailed. Patient history includes relevant comorbidities such as diverticulosis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), angiodysplasia, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, ischemic colitis, colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer, and use of anticoagulants or NSAIDs. Physical examination findings include vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate), orthostatic hypotension, abdominal tenderness, and digital rectal examination findings. Diagnostic workup may include complete blood count (CBC) to assess for anemia, coagulation studies (PT, INR, PTT), stool guaiac test, colonoscopy, CT angiography, or nuclear medicine bleeding scan. Severity of bleeding assessed and categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on hemodynamic stability and blood loss. Treatment plan includes fluid resuscitation, blood transfusion if indicated, endoscopic hemostasis, or surgical intervention depending on the cause and severity of the bleeding. Differential diagnosis considerations include upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures. Patient education provided on potential causes, treatment options, and follow-up care. ICD-10 code K62.8 (other specified diseases of intestines) or more specific code if etiology is determined, and appropriate CPT codes for procedures performed are documented. Plan for follow-up care and monitoring is outlined.