Question 1 The appropriate diagnostic code for this situation is ICD-10-CM Code K35.80, which
corresponds to Acute Appendicitis.
Question 2 The applicable guideline in this circumstance is a general coding guideline that states that if a
patient has been diagnosed with a medical condition, the patient should exhibit signs and symptoms
that are consistent with that illness. It is necessary to give code for the principal diagnostic or medical
condition, unless otherwise specified by the categorization.
Question 3 The patient has been hospitalized with a chief complaint of intense discomfort in the lower
right abdomen. In addition, she expresses dissatisfaction with feelings of nausea and an increase in white
blood cell count. The following are the indications and symptoms of acute appendicitis. Therefore, while
coding for this particular case, it is necessary to just give code for the major diagnostic and exclude the
codes for signs and symptoms. You should not give codes for symptoms and indicators.
