In Part 2 of this series, we spent a little time considering J84.10 and the specific diagnosis of granuloma of the lung. In this installment, we’ll look at another oft-neglected pulmonary diagnosis of bronchiectasis, coded J47.9.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH, bronchiectasis occurs when an infection or other condition injures the walls of the lung’s airways, causing them to become flabby and scarred. Lungs produce mucus which traps dust, bacteria and other small particles; when the mucus builds up, it creates an environment where bacteria can grow and cause serious lung infections.
A healthy lung can clear out the mucus, but bronchiectasis prevents the lung from doing this so the mucus remains in the lungs, causing repeated infections and lung damage. This vicious cycle of infection and damage eventually affects the airways, making it difficult to move air in and out of the lungs, and send oxygen to vital organs.
Bronchiectasis can be found on a CT scan of the chest, which will show scarring and lung damage, and – to a lesser extent – on a chest x-ray, which can show areas of abnormal lung and thickened, irregular airway walls.
Proper documentation would include the source of the diagnosis – because it’s radiological, not clinical – an assessment and treatment plan.