2025 ICD-10-CM code O72.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Obstetrics - Complications of labor and delivery Chapter 15: Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium Feed
Third-stage hemorrhage is bleeding that occurs after the delivery of the baby but before the delivery of the placenta.
Medical necessity for coding O72.0 is established when there's evidence of postpartum hemorrhage occurring after the infant's delivery and prior to the placenta's delivery. The clinical documentation must justify the medical interventions related to the management of the hemorrhage.Severity of blood loss, need for interventions to control bleeding, and the overall impact on the mother's health should be well-documented.
Obstetricians and other healthcare professionals involved in labor and delivery management are responsible for the diagnosis and management of third-stage hemorrhage. This includes prompt assessment, appropriate intervention (e.g., uterine massage, medications, surgical procedures), and monitoring of the patient's hemodynamic status.Collaboration with anesthesiologists and other specialists may be required in severe cases.
- Chapter 15: Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium
- Chapter 15: Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium > Complications of labor and delivery
In simple words: Third-stage hemorrhage is bleeding after the baby is born but before the placenta comes out. This can happen because the placenta is stuck or for other reasons.
Third-stage hemorrhage (O72.0) in the ICD-10-CM classification refers to postpartum hemorrhage occurring after delivery of the infant but before expulsion of the placenta.This type of hemorrhage is associated with retained, trapped, or adherent placenta.It may also be related to uterine atony or other causes of postpartum bleeding. The code encompasses various scenarios involving complications during the third stage of labor and delivery.
Example 1: A 32-year-old woman delivers a healthy infant vaginally.However, significant bleeding begins after the infant's delivery, but before the placenta is delivered.Manual removal of the placenta is required to stop the bleeding. Code O72.0 is applied., A 28-year-old woman undergoes a cesarean section due to a previous uterine scar. Following delivery of the infant, a retained placenta is identified. Significant postpartum bleeding occurs. Manual removal of the placenta is performed, and O72.0 is assigned., A 25-year-old patient experiences a uterine atony that results in immediate postpartum hemorrhage which includes a significant amount of bleeding post-baby delivery but prior to the delivery of the placenta. The patient is treated with uterotonic medications to control the bleeding. Code O72.0 is documented.
Documentation should include details of the delivery (vaginal or cesarean), the timing of the hemorrhage (after infant delivery but before placental delivery), the amount of blood loss, the method of placental delivery (spontaneous, manual, or assisted), any interventions performed (uterotonic medications, blood transfusion, surgical procedures), and the patient's response to treatment.Relevant lab results (e.g., hemoglobin, hematocrit) should also be documented.
** This code is specifically for third-stage hemorrhage; other codes (O72.1, O72.2, etc.) should be used for different types and timings of postpartum hemorrhage. Always ensure the appropriate code selection reflects the specific circumstances of the case.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Birthing Center