Acute post-thoracotomy pain

This code identifies acute pain experienced by a patient following a thoracotomy. It specifically refers to pain that is directly attributable to the surgical incision and manipulation of tissues during a thoracic surgical procedure, and is of recent onset and limited duration.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is experiencing acute pain as a direct consequence of a recent thoracotomy. This includes pain managed in the immediate postoperative period or during a subsequent encounter where the acute nature of the post-surgical pain is still present. Documentation should specify the pain's relationship to the thoracotomy and its acute presentation.

• Differentiate from chronic post-thoracotomy pain (G89.22), which implies pain lasting beyond the expected healing period.
• Always sequence this code after the primary diagnosis for which the thoracotomy was performed, or as a secondary diagnosis if the pain is the focus of the encounter.
• Ensure the medical record explicitly links the pain to the thoracotomy and describes it as acute.