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  2. ICD-10-CM Codes List
  3. J00–J99
  4. J90-J94
  5. Pneumothorax and air leak (J93)

Pneumothorax and air leak (J93)

ICD-10 code J93 covers pneumothorax and air leak conditions, which involve air escaping from the lung into the chest cavity. These codes are used for precise diagnosis and billing of different types of pneumothorax, such as spontaneous tension pneumothorax and chronic pneumothorax.

This section includes codes like J93.0 for spontaneous tension pneumothorax, also called tension pneumothorax, an urgent condition where air pressure builds rapidly. J93.11 captures primary spontaneous pneumothorax, sometimes known as familial spontaneous pneumothorax, occurring without lung disease, while J93.12 is for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, often linked to infections like Pneumocystis jirovecii. Other codes, such as J93.81 (chronic pneumothorax) and J93.82 (other air leaks), address less common presentations. For instances where the type of pneumothorax is unclear, J93.9 is used, covering conditions like right or left pneumothorax and closed pneumothorax. This detailed ICD-10 code grouping helps clinicians and coders accurately specify the exact type of pneumothorax or air leak being treated or documented.

Instructional Notations

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.

  • congenital or perinatal pneumothorax P25.1
  • postprocedural air leak J95.812
  • postprocedural pneumothorax J95.811
  • traumatic pneumothorax S27.0
  • tuberculous current disease pneumothorax A15
  • pyopneumothorax J86

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.

Pleural Cavity

Paired but separate cavity within the THORACIC CAVITY. It consists of the space between the parietal and visceral PLEURA and normally contains a capillary layer of serous fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces.

Pneumothorax

An accumulation of air or gas in the PLEURAL CAVITY, which may occur spontaneously or as a result of trauma or a pathological process. The gas may also be introduced deliberately during PNEUMOTHORAX, ARTIFICIAL.

Pneumothorax, Artificial

Injection of air or a more slowly absorbed gas such as nitrogen, into the PLEURAL CAVITY to collapse the lung.