Acute appendicitis with loc peritonitis, w/o perf or gangr

This diagnosis code signifies an acute inflammation of the appendix that has progressed to involve the surrounding peritoneum, but without evidence of a ruptured appendix or tissue death. The peritonitis is confined to the immediate area around the appendix, indicating a contained inflammatory process.

This code is appropriate when documentation explicitly states acute appendicitis with localized peritonitis. It should be used when the physician's notes confirm the absence of perforation, rupture, or gangrenous changes of the appendix. Imaging reports and operative findings often support this diagnosis.

• Ensure the documentation clearly differentiates localized peritonitis from generalized peritonitis, which would indicate a different code.
• Verify the absence of perforation or gangrene; their presence would necessitate a more specific and severe appendicitis code.
• Look for terms like "contained inflammation," "pericecal inflammation," or "localized inflammatory exudate" in operative notes to support localized peritonitis.