Drown due to being washed overboard from merchant ship, subs

This code indicates a patient presenting for follow-up care or sequelae stemming from a drowning or near-drowning incident that occurred after being washed overboard from a merchant ship. It signifies that the initial injury event has passed, and the patient is now receiving ongoing treatment or management for related conditions.

Apply this code for subsequent encounters when a patient is being treated for complications such as aspiration pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), neurological deficits, or other long-term effects directly resulting from a drowning event that happened after falling from a merchant vessel. This includes rehabilitation, medication management, or diagnostic workups related to the initial incident.

• Always ensure the "D" for subsequent encounter is appropriate; use "A" for initial encounters and "S" for sequela.
• Code any specific resulting conditions (e.g., J69.0 for aspiration pneumonia) as additional diagnoses.
• Verify the mechanism of injury specifically involved a merchant ship and being washed overboard.