Unspecified pre-eclampsia, complicating the puerperium

This code signifies a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia that developed or persisted during the postpartum period, where the specific severity (e.g., mild, severe) is not documented. Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria, which can manifest up to six weeks after delivery.

Apply this code when a patient presents with signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia (e.g., elevated blood pressure, proteinuria) during the puerperium, and the medical record does not specify whether it is mild or severe. This code is appropriate when the physician's documentation explicitly states "unspecified pre-eclampsia in the puerperium" or similar phrasing indicating the lack of severity detail.

• Ensure documentation clearly indicates the pre-eclampsia occurred during the postpartum period.
• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies "mild pre-eclampsia" or "severe pre-eclampsia" in the puerperium; use the more specific codes.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if it is a co-morbidity affecting the patient's care.