Epileptic spasms, intractable, with status epilepticus

This code signifies a severe form of epilepsy characterized by recurrent, brief, symmetrical contractions of the head, trunk, and extremities, which are resistant to standard antiepileptic drug treatment. The patient is experiencing a prolonged or continuous series of these spasms without full recovery of consciousness between episodes, constituting status epilepticus.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates intractable epileptic spasms, often seen in infants or young children with specific epilepsy syndromes (e.g., West syndrome), and the patient is currently in status epilepticus. Supporting documentation must specify both the intractability of the spasms and the presence of status epilepticus.

• Always sequence this code after the underlying cause of the epileptic spasms, if known.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "intractable" or "refractory" and "status epilepticus" in addition to "epileptic spasms."
• Do not use this code for isolated epileptic spasms that are not intractable or not in status epilepticus.