Understand rhonchi diagnosis, clinical significance, and medical coding. Find information on rhonchi sounds, auscultation, treatment, documentation, ICD-10 codes, differential diagnosis, and associated conditions like COPD and bronchitis. Learn about rhonchi vs. wheezing, breath sounds, respiratory assessment, and best practices for healthcare professionals. Explore resources for accurate clinical documentation and coding related to rhonchi.
Also known as
Other abnormal respiratory sounds
Rhonchi are classified under other abnormal respiratory sounds.
Other disorders of lung
Rhonchi may be present in various lung disorders.
Wheezing
Rhonchi can sometimes be associated with wheezing.
Chronic lower respiratory diseases
Rhonchi can be a symptom in some chronic lower respiratory diseases.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Are rhonchi present?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Rhonchi: Rattling lung sounds |
| Wheezes: Whistling lung sounds |
| Stridor: Harsh, high-pitched breath sound |
Using unspecified rhonchi codes (e.g., R06.2) when more specific diagnoses are available, leading to inaccurate clinical documentation and reimbursement.
Miscoding rhonchi (R06.2) and crackles (R06.0) due to similar clinical presentations, impacting data quality and respiratory disease tracking.
Insufficient documentation of rhonchi laterality (left, right, bilateral), hindering accurate severity assessment and care planning.
Patient presents with complaints of noisy breathing, clinically documented as rhonchi. Assessment reveals low-pitched, continuous, sonorous breath sounds, often described as snoring or rattling, primarily heard during expiration and suggestive of airway obstruction. Differential diagnosis includes chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and obstructive sleep apnea. Rhonchi auscultation was performed, revealing secretions in the larger airways. Patient denies shortness of breath or chest pain, but reports a productive cough with thick mucus. Current medications include over-the-counter cough suppressant. Plan includes increasing fluid intake, encouraging deep breathing exercises, and monitoring for changes in respiratory status. Medical coding for this encounter may include ICD-10 code R06.2 (wheezing) or R09.2 (other abnormal respiratory sounds), depending on the specific presentation, along with relevant CPT codes for the evaluation and management services provided. Patient education provided on pulmonary hygiene and the importance of follow-up care.