Cardiomyopathy vs. Acute CHF

deanna.schad

I would like to get some input on how others sequence patients admitted with severe nonischemic cardiomyopathy and acute CHF...treatment includes Dobutamine, Primacor, and Bumex drips. The advice we are getting is that if pt is admitted with cardiomyopathy and there is acute CHF, you will always need to sequence the Acute CHF as principal (unless the cardiomyopathy is newly diagnosed this admit).

Thanks

Dee Schad, RN, CCDS
CDI Manager
Jewish Hospital & St Mary's Healthcare
Louisville, KY

dog

Congestive Cardiomyopathy vs. CHF
Coding Clinic 2nd Qtr. 1990, p. 19

Question:
“Define the term ‘congestive’ cardiomyopathy and advise when it is appropriate to code congestive heart failure as the principal diagnosis when both are listed in the final diagnostic statement.”

Answer:
“Congestive cardiomyopathy, more commonly referred to as ‘dilated’ cardiomyopathy, is a myocardial disease characterized by ventricular dilation, contractile dysfunction, and symptoms of congestive heart failure.

In most cases treatment revolves around the management of the congestive heart failure (salt restriction, diuretics, and other drugs) and in those instances the heart failure, 428.0 or 428.1, is the principal diagnosis with cardiomyopathy, 425.4, assigned as an additional diagnosis.”

Hope that helps.

Renee

Linda Renee Brown, RN, CCRN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center