Acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma

This code signifies a rapid and severe deterioration of liver function, occurring over days to weeks, without the presence of encephalopathy or loss of consciousness. It indicates a significant impairment in the liver's ability to perform its metabolic and synthetic functions.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states acute or subacute hepatic failure and explicitly denies or does not mention coma or hepatic encephalopathy. This is typically supported by laboratory findings such as elevated liver enzymes, bilirubin, and INR, alongside clinical signs of liver dysfunction.

• Differentiate carefully from K72.1x (Chronic hepatic failure) and K72.9x (Unspecified hepatic failure).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "without coma" or "no encephalopathy" to avoid miscoding to K72.01.
• Always review the entire medical record for any mention of altered mental status that would necessitate a different code.