The patient was hypoxemic and had impending respiratory failure. An endotracheal tube was advanced with the capnometer showing appropriate intubation into the airway, and the breath sounds were heard bilaterally in the lungs and not in the abdomen. The cuff was inflated and the endotracheal tube was placed at 24 cm. A chest x-ray confirmed placement. Immediately after intubation the patient had an episode of bradycardia and hypotension. Select the appropriate CPT and ICD-10-CM codes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct CPT code for intubation is 31500. The ICD-10-CM codes R09.02 (hypoxemia), I97.89 (other postprocedural complications and disorders of the circulatory system, not elsewhere classified, which can include bradycardia and hypotension following intubation), R00.1 (bradycardia, unspecified), and I95.9 (hypotension, unspecified) accurately describe the patient's condition and complications following the procedure. J96.00 (Acute respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia) is not selected because the specific complication codes (I97.89, R00.1, I95.9) provide a more accurate description of the patient's post-intubation condition.

The Patient Was Hypoxemic and Had Impending Respiratory Failure