Neonatal Respiratory Distress ICD-10-CM codes

P22.0 is respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn (hyaline membrane disease, surfactant deficiency), typically in a preterm infant. P22.1 is transient tachypnea of the newborn (wet lung, retained fetal lung fluid), which is usually a term or near-term infant who improves within days. P22.8 is other respiratory distress and P22.9 is unspecified respiratory distress of the newborn. Choose between P22.0 and P22.1 only on the provider's diagnosis; a chest film alone does not decide it.

Several conditions that present as respiratory distress have their own codes and are not reported with P22.9: meconium aspiration with respiratory symptoms is P24.01, respiratory failure of the newborn is P28.5, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia is P27.1. When the infant is premature, add the P07 codes for gestational age and birth weight.

On the birth admission Z38 (Z38.00 or Z38.01) is the principal diagnosis and P22 is secondary. If the infant is transferred to another facility, the receiving facility does not use Z38; the P22 code becomes the principal diagnosis there.