2025 ICD-10-CM code J95.2
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Respiratory System - Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99) Feed
Acute pulmonary insufficiency following non-thoracic surgery.
Medical necessity for the use of J95.2 would be established by documentation of acute respiratory insufficiency directly related to the non-thoracic surgical procedure.The documentation must demonstrate a causal link between the surgery and the development of the acute pulmonary insufficiency.
The clinical responsibility for this code would typically fall on the surgeon who performed the non-thoracic surgery, the anesthesiologist, and the critical care team (if applicable) responsible for managing the patient's respiratory distress.
- Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
- J95-J95.89 (Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified)
In simple words: This code is used when someone has sudden and serious lung problems after having surgery that wasn't on their chest.Their lungs aren't working properly, and they may not be getting enough oxygen.
This code classifies acute pulmonary insufficiency that occurs as a complication after a surgical procedure that is not performed on the thorax (chest).Acute pulmonary insufficiency refers to a sudden and severe impairment of the lungs' ability to function properly, leading to inadequate oxygenation of the blood.This condition can manifest in various ways, depending on its severity and underlying causes.
Example 1: A 65-year-old male patient undergoes abdominal surgery for colon cancer. Post-operatively, he develops acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring mechanical ventilation.Code J95.2 would be used to describe the acute pulmonary insufficiency following the non-thoracic surgery., A 40-year-old female patient undergoes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal).In the immediate postoperative period, she experiences shortness of breath and hypoxemia, requiring supplemental oxygen. Code J95.2 is applied, noting the acute pulmonary insufficiency following the non-thoracic procedure., A 72-year-old patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has an orthopedic procedure on the lower extremity. After surgery, he demonstrates a worsening of his baseline respiratory status, with acute respiratory distress. Code J95.2 would be appropriate with additional codes to reflect the COPD and its severity.
Thorough documentation is crucial.This should include the type of surgery performed, the timing of the onset of respiratory insufficiency relative to the surgery, details of the patient's respiratory status before, during and after the surgery, any interventions provided (e.g., supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, respiratory support therapies), and the patient's response to treatment.Pre-operative pulmonary function tests (if done) are also important supporting documentation.
** Excludes conditions such as aspiration pneumonia (J69.-), subcutaneous emphysema resulting from a procedure (T81.82), hypostatic pneumonia (J18.2), pulmonary manifestations due to radiation (J70.0-J70.1), and functional disturbances following cardiac surgery (I97.0, I97.1-).
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Surgery, Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center