ICD-10-CM Code R18
Ascites
Non-Billable Code
Non-Billable means the code is not sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital when used a principal diagnosis. Use a child code to capture more detail.ICD Code R18 is a non-billable code. To code a diagnosis of this type, you must use one of the two child codes of R18 that describes the diagnosis 'ascites' in more detail.
- R18 Ascites NON-BILLABLE
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- BILLABLE R18.0 Malignant ascites
- BILLABLE R18.8 Other ascites
The ICD code R18 is used to code Ascites
Ascites (/əˈsaɪtiːz/ ə-SY-teez, from Greek askites, "baglike") is a gastroenterological term for an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The medical condition is also known as peritoneal cavity fluid, peritoneal fluid excess, hydroperitoneum or more archaically as abdominal dropsy. Although most commonly due to cirrhosis, severe liver disease or metastatic cancer, its presence can be a sign of other significant medical problems, such as Budd–Chiari syndrome. Diagnosis of the cause is usually with blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the abdomen, and direct removal of the fluid by needle or paracentesis (which may also be therapeutic). Treatment may be with medication (diuretics), paracentesis, or other treatments directed at the cause.
| Specialty: | Gastroenterology |
| MeSH Code: | D001201 |
| ICD 9 Code: | 789.5 |
The abdomen of a person with cirrhosis showing massive ascites and prominent superficial veins
Coding Notes for R18 Info for medical coders on how to properly use this ICD-10 code
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Code Includes Notes:
Includes
Includes notes further define, or give examples of, conditions included in the section. - Fluid in peritoneal cavity
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Code Type-1 Excludes:
Type-1 Excludes
Type-1 Excludes mean the conditions excluded are mutually exclusive and should never be coded together. Excludes 1 means "do not code here." - Ascites in alcoholic cirrhosis - instead, use code K70.31
- Ascites in alcoholic hepatitis - instead, use code K70.11
- Ascites in toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis - instead, use code K71.51
ICD-10-CM Alphabetical Index References for 'R18 - Ascites'
The ICD-10-CM Alphabetical Index links the below-listed medical terms to the ICD code R18. Click on any term below to browse the alphabetical index.