Postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis

This code represents the scarring and thickening of lung tissue that occurs as a long-term consequence of a prior inflammatory process within the lungs. This fibrosis impairs lung function, leading to reduced gas exchange and potentially progressive respiratory symptoms. It is a chronic, irreversible condition resulting from the body's healing response to inflammation.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states "postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis" or describes fibrotic lung changes clearly attributed to a resolved inflammatory lung condition (e.g., severe pneumonia, ARDS, or other inflammatory lung injury). This diagnosis should be supported by imaging findings (e.g., chest X-ray, CT scan) showing fibrotic changes and a clinical history of a preceding inflammatory lung event.

• Do not use this code for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or fibrosis due to known systemic diseases; those have specific codes.
• Ensure the documentation clearly links the fibrosis to a prior inflammatory event, not ongoing inflammation.
• Consider sequencing this code after the resolved acute inflammatory condition if the patient is still being treated for sequelae.