Aspirat pneumonitis due to anesth during labor and delivery

This code describes inflammation of the lungs resulting from the inhalation of gastric contents or other foreign material into the respiratory tract, specifically when this event occurs during the administration of anesthesia for labor and delivery. It represents a serious complication that can lead to respiratory distress and infection.

This code is used when documentation clearly indicates aspiration pneumonitis developed as a direct consequence of anesthesia during the peripartum period. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing the aspiration event, symptoms of pneumonitis (e.g., dyspnea, cough, fever), and a confirmed link to anesthetic administration during labor or delivery.

• Always sequence this code as a secondary diagnosis following the primary obstetric code for the delivery.
• Ensure documentation explicitly links the aspiration pneumonitis to anesthesia, not other causes of aspiration.
• Do not confuse with aspiration pneumonia (J69.0) if the cause is not anesthesia during labor and delivery.