Understanding Renal Insufficiency: Find information on diagnosis codes (ICD-10-CM N17.9, N17), clinical documentation improvement for renal failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages, acute kidney injury (AKI), GFR (glomerular filtration rate), creatinine levels, and treatment options. Learn about medical coding guidelines for renal insufficiency, kidney disease documentation requirements, and healthcare resources for patients with impaired kidney function.
Also known as
Unspecified renal failure
Covers various stages of kidney failure without further specification.
Acute kidney failure
Sudden loss of kidney function requiring prompt treatment.
Hypertensive kidney disease
Kidney damage from high blood pressure, a cause of renal insufficiency.
Diseases of the urinary system
Broad category including many causes and forms of renal insufficiency.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the renal insufficiency acute?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Kidney function decreased, not yet ESRD. |
| Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) |
| Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) |
Coding renal insufficiency without specifying the stage (e.g., acute, chronic, stage 1-5) leads to inaccurate severity reflection and reimbursement.
Missing documentation and coding of related conditions like hypertension and diabetes impacts risk adjustment and quality reporting.
Misclassifying acute kidney injury (AKI) as chronic kidney disease (CKD) or vice versa affects treatment and prognosis coding accuracy.
Patient presents with signs and symptoms suggestive of renal insufficiency, also known as chronic kidney disease CKD. Presenting complaints include fatigue, decreased urine output oliguria, swelling in the extremities edema, and shortness of breath dyspnea. The patient reports a history of hypertension, a significant risk factor for kidney disease, and recent lab work reveals elevated creatinine and blood urea nitrogen BUN levels, indicative of impaired kidney function. Glomerular filtration rate GFR, calculated using the CKD-EPI equation, is currently estimated at [Insert GFR value] mLmin1.73 m2, placing the patient in CKD stage [Insert Stage]. Urinalysis shows proteinuria, further supporting the diagnosis. Differential diagnosis includes acute kidney injury AKI, but the chronic nature of the patient's hypertension and progressive decline in renal function point towards chronic kidney disease. Treatment plan includes aggressive blood pressure management with [Specify medication class e.g., ACE inhibitors, ARBs], dietary modifications focusing on protein restriction and sodium reduction, and close monitoring of renal function with regular laboratory assessments of creatinine, BUN, and GFR. Patient education regarding renal diet, fluid management, and medication adherence will be provided. Referral to a nephrologist is recommended for ongoing management of chronic kidney disease. ICD-10 code N18. [Specify stage if documented] will be used for billing and coding purposes.