Acute kidney failure (N17)
ICD-10 code section N17 covers various types of acute kidney failure, a sudden loss of kidney function. These codes are essential for accurately identifying and documenting specific causes and forms of acute kidney injury in clinical settings.
The main code N17 represents acute kidney failure in general. More detailed subcodes distinguish conditions such as acute kidney failure with tubular necrosis (N17.0), often linked to toxic or ischemic damage, also known as acute tubular necrosis. The code N17.1 is used for acute kidney failure with acute cortical necrosis, a severe form involving death of kidney tissue in the cortex. N17.2 captures acute kidney failure with medullary necrosis, which includes conditions like renal papillary necrosis often caused by infections or systemic diseases. Code N17.8 identifies other acute kidney failures such as post-renal causes or ischemic nephropathy not specified elsewhere. Lastly, N17.9 covers unspecified acute kidney failure, including cases related to contrast media, procedural complications, or even acute kidney injury from COVID-19. Using these specific codes ensures precise clinical and billing documentation for different acute kidney failure types.
Instructional Notations
Code Also
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
- associated underlying condition
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- posttraumatic renal failure T79.5
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Acute Kidney Injury
Abrupt reduction in kidney function. Acute kidney injury encompasses the entire spectrum of the syndrome including acute kidney failure; ACUTE KIDNEY TUBULAR NECROSIS; and other less severe conditions.
Hepatorenal Syndrome
Functional KIDNEY FAILURE in patients with liver disease, usually LIVER CIRRHOSIS or portal hypertension (HYPERTENSION, PORTAL), and in the absence of intrinsic renal disease or kidney abnormality. It is characterized by intense renal vasculature constriction, reduced renal blood flow, OLIGURIA, and sodium retention.
Pyelitis
Inflammation of the KIDNEY PELVIS and KIDNEY CALICES where urine is collected before discharge, but does not involve the renal parenchyma (the NEPHRONS) where urine is processed.
Pyonephrosis
Distention of KIDNEY with the presence of PUS and suppurative destruction of the renal parenchyma. It is often associated with renal obstruction and can lead to total or nearly total loss of renal function.
