Understand obtundation diagnosis, clinical significance, and documentation. Find information on obtunded patient assessment, levels of consciousness, altered mental status, and related terms like lethargy, stupor, and coma. Explore medical coding for obtundation, including ICD-10 codes and appropriate clinical terminology for healthcare professionals. Learn about causes, symptoms, and treatment considerations for obtundation. This resource provides guidance for accurate and comprehensive clinical documentation and coding of obtundation.
Also known as
Somnolence, stupor, and coma
Covers decreased consciousness levels, including obtundation.
Delirium, not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive substances
Includes obtundation as a potential feature of delirium.
Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances
Certain poisonings can cause obtundation as a symptom.
Intracranial injury
Brain injuries may lead to altered consciousness, including obtundation.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the obtundation due to a drug or substance?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Lessened alertness/responsiveness |
Stupor |
Delirium |
Coding obtundation without documenting the underlying cause leads to unspecified codes and lost revenue. CDI can query for clarification.
Obtundation and coma have similar features. Miscoding can impact severity scores and reimbursement. Audits should focus on clinical documentation specificity.
Insufficient documentation of obtundation level hinders accurate code assignment and can trigger denials. CDI and coding audits are crucial for validation.
Patient presents with obtundation, demonstrating a decreased level of consciousness and alertness. Assessment reveals reduced responsiveness to external stimuli, requiring increased stimulation for arousal. The patient exhibits psychomotor retardation, delayed responses to questions, and drowsiness. Differential diagnosis includes metabolic encephalopathy, drug intoxication, neurological disorders such as stroke or intracranial hemorrhage, and infections like sepsis or meningitis. Initial laboratory studies including complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, blood cultures, and urinalysis have been ordered to evaluate potential underlying etiologies. Neurological examination reveals sluggish pupillary response and decreased deep tendon reflexes. Imaging studies such as head CT or MRI may be indicated based on initial laboratory results and clinical suspicion. Current plan includes close monitoring of neurological status, supportive care with intravenous fluids, and further diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause of obtundation. Patient safety precautions implemented to prevent falls and aspiration. Medical decision making complexity is moderate given the need to differentiate between various potential causes and initiate appropriate treatment. ICD-10 code R40.0, unspecified stupor, will be used pending further diagnostic clarification. CPT codes for evaluation and management services will be determined based on the time spent and complexity of medical decision making. Continued reassessment and modification of the treatment plan will be based on the evolving clinical picture and diagnostic findings.