What is the ICD-10 code for acute liver failure?

The ICD-10 code for acute liver failure is K72.0, used for non-toxic etiologies such as viral or autoimmune hepatitis.

How do you code drug-induced acute liver failure?

Use ICD-10 code K71.1 for drug-induced acute liver failure, with an additional code to identify the specific drug.

ICD-10 Coding for Acute Liver Failure(K72.0, K70.4, K71.1)

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Comprehensive guide to ICD-10 coding for acute liver failure, including key codes, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Fulminant Hepatic FailureAcute Hepatic Failure

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Acute Liver Failure

K00-K95Primary Range

Diseases of the digestive system

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
K72.0	Acute and subacute hepatic failure	Use when acute liver failure is due to non-toxic causes such as viral or autoimmune hepatitis.	INR >1.5 ALT/AST >5x ULN Presence of encephalopathy
K71.1	Toxic liver disease with hepatic necrosis	Use when liver failure is due to drug or toxin exposure.	Positive toxicology screen Temporal link to drug exposure
K76.82	Hepatic encephalopathy	Use when encephalopathy is present with liver failure.	Ammonia >100 µmol/L Neurological exam findings

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Acute and subacute hepatic failure

K72.0

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Chronic hepatic failureK72.1

Alcoholic hepatic failureK70.4

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Acute Liver Failure.

Vague documentation of liver failure.

Impact

Clinical: May lead to inappropriate treatment., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards., Financial: Potential for reduced reimbursement.

Mitigation

Use specific terms like 'acute' and 'etiology'., Include lab results and clinical findings.

Incorrectly coding chronic liver failure as acute.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to incorrect DRG assignment., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data representation.

Mitigation

Verify acute onset and absence of chronic liver disease.

Etiology Documentation

Impact

Failure to document specific etiology of liver failure.

Mitigation

Ensure detailed documentation of cause and lab results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with K72.0.

Primary Code

K72.0

Acute and subacute hepatic failure

Quick Navigation

ICD-10 codes5

Coding risks3

FAQs2

ICD-10 Coding for Acute Liver Failure(K72.0, K70.4, K71.1)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for acute liver failure?

How do you code drug-induced acute liver failure?

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