Failed attempted abortion complicated by embolism

This code signifies a complication arising from an unsuccessful attempt to terminate a pregnancy, specifically the development of an embolism. This could involve a blood clot, air, or other foreign material obstructing a blood vessel, occurring during or after the failed abortion procedure.

This code is appropriate when a patient presents with an embolism directly attributable to a failed attempted abortion. Documentation should clearly state the occurrence of an embolism and its causal link to the unsuccessful termination procedure.

• Always sequence this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the primary code for the failed attempted abortion (e.g., 637.x).
• Specify the type of embolism if known and documented (e.g., pulmonary embolism, air embolism) using additional codes.
• Ensure the medical record explicitly links the embolism to the failed abortion attempt; avoid using this code for embolisms unrelated to the procedure.