Find information on subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis, including clinical documentation requirements, ICD-10 codes (I60.x), medical coding guidelines, and healthcare best practices. Learn about SAH symptoms, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and long-term prognosis. This resource provides essential information for physicians, nurses, coders, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care and management of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Explore relevant information on aneurysm rupture, sentinel headache, neuroimaging for SAH, and differential diagnosis.
Also known as
Intracranial nonpyogenic hemorrhage
Covers bleeding within the skull, excluding infections.
Other cerebrovascular diseases
Includes various cerebrovascular conditions not specified elsewhere.
Nontraumatic extradural hemorrhage
Bleeding between the skull and dura mater, not due to trauma.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Traumatic SAH?
Yes
SAH with skull fracture?
No
Non-traumatic SAH cause known?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Subarachnoid hemorrhage |
Intracerebral hemorrhage |
Subdural hematoma |
Coding SAH requires specifying traumatic vs. non-traumatic (e.g., aneurysm) etiology for accurate reimbursement and quality reporting.
Insufficient documentation of comorbidities like hypertension or coagulopathy impacting SAH severity can lead to undercoding and lost revenue.
Failing to capture long-term neurological deficits (e.g., cognitive impairment) as sequelae of SAH impacts patient care and resource allocation.
Patient presents with sudden onset of severe headache, described as "the worst headache of my life," consistent with a suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Onset was sudden while [activity at onset, e.g., exercising, at rest]. Associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, photophobia, and decreased level of consciousness. Neurological examination reveals [specific neurological findings, e.g., nuchal rigidity, positive Kernig's and Brudzinski's signs, cranial nerve deficits]. Patient's medical history includes [relevant medical history, e.g., hypertension, smoking, family history of aneurysms]. Differential diagnosis includes migraine, meningitis, intracranial hemorrhage, and cerebral aneurysm. Initial computed tomography (CT) scan of the head without contrast was performed to evaluate for subarachnoid blood. If CT is negative and clinical suspicion remains high, lumbar puncture (LP) will be considered to analyze cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for xanthochromia and red blood cells. Cerebral angiography is planned to identify the source of bleeding, such as a ruptured aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Treatment plan includes supportive care, pain management, blood pressure control, and neurosurgical consultation for possible aneurysm clipping or coiling. Patient's condition is being closely monitored for complications such as vasospasm, hydrocephalus, and seizures. ICD-10 code I60.9 (Subarachnoid hemorrhage, unspecified) is assigned. Continued monitoring and reassessment are warranted.