R10.0 – Acute abdomen

R10.0 Diagnosis Code: Acute abdomen

Acute abdomen refers to the sudden onset of severe abdominal pain that may be indicative of a serious underlying medical condition.

The clinical description of the diagnosis code R10.0 includes the following key points:

• Acute abdominal pain that starts suddenly and intensifies rapidly.
• It is a medical emergency requiring prompt evaluation and appropriate management.
• The pain is localized in the abdomen and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension.
• Various conditions, including appendicitis, cholecystitis, bowel obstruction, peritonitis, and ectopic pregnancy, among others can cause the acute abdomen.
• Diagnosis involves a thorough physical examination, medical history assessment, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and sometimes exploratory surgery.
• Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may involve surgical intervention, medications, or other interventions deemed necessary by healthcare professionals.

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Is R10.0 Billable: Yes

Yes, the diagnosis code R10.0, representing acute abdomen, is billable. It is important to note that billability may vary based on specific payer guidelines, coding rules, and documentation requirements. Healthcare providers should review the latest coding guidelines and consult with the respective coding authorities and payers to ensure accurate and compliant billing practices.

Clinical Information

Clinical information related to R10.0 (acute abdomen) includes:

• Evaluation of the severity, location, and character of abdominal pain.
• Assessment of associated symptoms, such as vomiting, nausea, fever, distension, and changes in bowel habits.
• Physical examination findings included abdominal tenderness, guarding, rebound tenderness, and palpable masses.
• History-taking to identify potential risk factors, previous surgeries, medical conditions, and medications.
• Diagnostic tests and procedures include laboratory tests (complete blood count, chemistry panel, etc.), imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan, etc.), and sometimes exploratory surgery.
• Differential diagnosis to rule out other causes of abdominal pain, such as gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecological, or musculoskeletal disorders.
• Management approaches based on the identified underlying cause may involve surgical intervention, medical treatment, pain management, and close monitoring.

Synonyms Include:

• Sudden severe abdominal pain
• Acute abdominal distress
• Abdominal emergency
• Acute belly pain
• Acute peritonitis
• Acute bellyache
• Acute abdominal colic
• Acute abdominal syndrome
• Acute belly cramps

Other ICD-10 Codes Commonly Used for Acute Abdomen

Some other commonly used ICD-10 codes for acute abdomen include:

• R10.1 - Pain localized to the upper abdomen
• R10.2 - Pelvic and perineal pain
• R10.3 - Pain localized to other parts of the lower abdomen
• R10.4 - Other and unspecified abdominal pain
• K35.0 - Acute appendicitis
• K80.0 - Calculus of gallbladder with acute cholecystitis
• K56.0 - Paralytic ileus
• K65.0 - Generalized (acute) peritonitis
• K92.0 - Hematemesis
• K59.0 - Constipation