Metabolic acidemia noted at birth

This code identifies a condition in a newborn characterized by an abnormally low blood pH (acidemia) due to metabolic disturbances, which is documented as being present at birth. It indicates an imbalance in the body's acid-base regulation, specifically metabolic in origin, affecting the neonate.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states "metabolic acidemia noted at birth" or similar phrasing indicating a metabolic acidosis present at the time of delivery or immediately postpartum. Supporting documentation includes arterial or venous umbilical cord blood gas analysis showing low pH and bicarbonate, or other laboratory findings confirming metabolic acidosis in the neonate.

• Differentiate from respiratory acidemia; this code is specific to metabolic causes.
• Ensure documentation specifies "noted at birth" or "congenital" to support its use as a P-code.
• Consider additional codes for the underlying cause of the metabolic acidemia, if known and documented.