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2025 ICD-10-CM code K72.9

Hepatic failure, unspecified;liver's inability to function adequately.

Follow the official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines for accurate assignment.Code the underlying cause of the hepatic failure if known. If hepatic coma is present, use K72.7.

Not applicable to ICD-10 codes.

Medical necessity for this code would be supported by the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with hepatic failure, confirmed by laboratory and/or imaging findings. The severity of liver dysfunction and the impact on the patient's overall health would necessitate appropriate medical intervention and justify the diagnosis code.

The clinical responsibility for K72.9 rests with the physician managing the patient's liver disease. This involves diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring, and coordination of care.Specific responsibilities include ordering appropriate laboratory tests, imaging studies, and consultations when necessary.

IMPORTANT:Consider K72.0 (Acute and subacute liver failure), K72.1 (Chronic hepatic failure), K72.7 (Hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic coma)depending on the clinical presentation and duration of the hepatic failure.Also, code the underlying cause if known (e.g., alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis).

In simple words: This code means the liver isn't working properly.This can happen because of different reasons, like damage from alcohol or other diseases. It can cause symptoms like yellowing of the skin and eyes, swelling in the belly, and confusion.

K72.9, Hepatic failure, unspecified, signifies the liver's failure to perform its essential metabolic functions. This can result from various underlying conditions, including but not limited to cirrhosis, drug-induced liver injury, and inherited metabolic disorders.Clinical presentation may involve jaundice, encephalopathy, ascites, and coagulopathy.Laboratory findings often reveal elevated levels of bilirubin, ammonia, and liver enzymes.

Example 1: A 55-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse presents with jaundice, ascites, and altered mental status.Laboratory tests reveal elevated liver enzymes, bilirubin, and ammonia.The diagnosis of K72.9 is assigned, along with a code for alcoholic cirrhosis., A 30-year-old female presents with acute liver failure following an overdose of acetaminophen.She exhibits signs of encephalopathy and coagulopathy.K72.9 is used in conjunction with codes for drug-induced liver injury and acute liver failure., A 70-year-old patient with a long history of Hepatitis C develops chronic liver failure.Laboratory results show significant liver dysfunction.The diagnosis of K72.9 is documented along with a code for chronic viral hepatitis.

Complete medical history, physical examination findings,laboratory data (liver function tests, ammonia levels, coagulation studies), imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI), and any relevant specialist consultations should be documented.

** Always code the underlying cause of the hepatic failure if identifiable.This code is for unspecified hepatic failure, so further specificity should be added if possible based on the clinical context.

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