Gastric contents in bronchus causing asphyxiation, sequela

This code signifies a long-term or late-developing complication resulting from the aspiration of gastric contents into the bronchus, leading to asphyxiation. It indicates that the initial acute event of choking on stomach contents has passed, but the patient is now experiencing a residual effect or condition directly attributable to that past aspiration.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a chronic respiratory condition, such as persistent lung damage, recurrent infections, or chronic aspiration pneumonia, that is directly linked to a prior episode of gastric content aspiration causing asphyxiation. This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters where the sequela of the initial event is being treated or monitored.

• Requires a seventh character "S" to indicate sequela, meaning the initial injury has healed but the patient is experiencing a residual effect.
• Do not use for the initial acute event of aspiration; that would require an acute injury code.
• Always sequence this code after the code(s) for the specific sequela being treated (e.g., chronic aspiration pneumonia).