Hypertensive emergency

This code represents a severe elevation in blood pressure (typically systolic >180 mmHg or diastolic >120 mmHg) accompanied by acute, life-threatening target organ damage. This damage can affect the brain, heart, kidneys, or eyes, requiring immediate blood pressure reduction to prevent further irreversible injury.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a hypertensive crisis with evidence of acute end-organ damage, such as hypertensive encephalopathy, acute heart failure with pulmonary edema, acute kidney injury, or retinal hemorrhages/papilledema. The physician's notes must explicitly state "hypertensive emergency" or describe the clinical picture consistent with this diagnosis.

• Distinguish carefully from "hypertensive urgency" (I16.0), which involves similar blood pressure elevations but without acute target organ damage.
• Always sequence this code first if it is the primary reason for the encounter, as it signifies a critical condition.
• Ensure the medical record thoroughly documents the specific acute target organ damage present to support this diagnosis.