Acute respiratory distress

This code identifies a sudden onset of difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. It signifies an acute, rather than chronic or long-standing, respiratory compromise that requires immediate attention and investigation into its underlying cause. This symptom indicates a patient is experiencing significant respiratory distress.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient presents with acute onset of labored breathing, dyspnea, or gasping. This is a symptom code, often used in emergency department or urgent care settings, and should be supported by physician notes describing the acute nature of the respiratory difficulty.

• This code should generally be sequenced as a secondary diagnosis when a definitive underlying cause for the acute respiratory distress is identified.
• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies a chronic respiratory condition (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) as the primary reason for the distress, as more specific codes exist.
• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "acute" or "sudden onset" to differentiate from chronic or unspecified respiratory distress.