Elevated lactate

cgoeweycgoewey
in Clinical & Coding

Hi, Does anyone know why the documentation of "elevated lactate" will code to lactic acidosis? Our providers at times document elevated lactate for levels of >2 but if the level is not greater than 4 or the pt is not acidotic it doesn't fit the definition of lactic acidosis. I have discussed this with my Medical Director and discussed querying if pt not acidotic and level is between 2-4 and he wanted me to research why elevated lactate would code to lactic acidosis. I cannot find anything when I search. Any help on the history would be helpful if you know it. Do you send a validation query if lactate is <4 and pt not acidotic?

Thanks,

Cindy

Comments

  • aefent@msn.comaefent@msn.com

    We are having the same discussion as UpToDate states 4 for their definition. If you look at the Pingson and Tang reference :

    image.png


    Elevated lactic acid does code out to lactic acidosis in 3M encoder:

    image.png

    I wonder if you can get there in the actual coding book?

    Does anyone have more information on this?

    Thanks so much!

    Amy Fenton RN CCDS

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