(2022) How To Code Chronic Constipation ICD 10 – List With Codes & Guidelines

This article will outline the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and the ICD 10 CM code for Chronic Constipation.

ICD 10 Code For Chronic Constipation Causes

Chronic constipation has many possible causes. Constipation occurs when waste (stool) travels through the digestive tract but is not eliminated by the rectum, making the stool hard and dry. A blockage in the colon or rectum can slow or stop the movement of stool.

Causes include:

• tiny tears in the skin of the Anus (anal tears)
• blocked intestinal intestines (intestinal blockages)
• colorectal cancer (narrowing of the colon and colon)
• narrowing
• other cancers of the abdomen that press against the colon or rectum
• bulges of the rectum (the back wall of the vagina or rectum)
• Neurological problems that affect the nerves that cause the muscles in the colon /rectum to contract and to move the stool out of the intestine.
• damage to nerves that control function (autonomic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson, spinal cord injury and stroke)

Problems with pelvic floor muscles when defecating can lead to chronic constipation. These problems include the inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow defecation (anism), the pelvic muscles that do not coordinate relaxation and contraction (dyssynergies), and the weakened pelvic muscles.

Hormones help balance fluids in the body. Diseases and conditions that disturb the balance of these hormones and can lead to constipation include diabetes, hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy and hypothyroidism. Patients who have little bowel movement or trouble with bowel movements may have difficulty getting them to move, hard or small stools that do not come out in a sense, or a belly that is bloated. A patient may feel they need help emptying their bowel by pushing down their abdomen and removing the stool with one finger from their buttocks.

ICD 10 Code For Chronic Constipation Diagnosis

In addition to a general physical examination and digital rectal examination, physicians will use follow-up exams and procedures to diagnose and find the cause of chronic constipation. Doctors will look for systemic diseases such as low hypothyroidism and high calcium levels.

Examination of the rectum and colon (sigmoidoscopy): In this procedure, the doctor inserts an illuminated flexible tube into the anus to examine the lower half of the colon. X-rays can help the doctor determine whether our intestine is blocked and whether there is stool in the colon.

Colonoscopy: A Colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows the doctor to examine our entire colon with a flexible camera with a tube.

Evaluation of anal sphincter muscle function (Anorectal manometry): In this test, a narrow flexible tube from the anus enters the rectum and inflates a small balloon at the tip of the tube. The tube pulls on sphincter muscles and muscles. This test allows the doctor to measure the coordination of the muscles he or she uses to move their intestines.

Evaluation of the anal sphincter muscle velocity (Balloon Expulsion Test): With the Balloon Expulsion Test, this test measures the time that it takes the patient to lift the balloon filled with water out of the place in the rectum. In this case, the patient eats food activated with radiocarbon and a special camera records their progress with scintigraphy.

An intestinal transit study is a procedure: in which the patient swallows a capsule containing an opaque X-ray marker and a wireless recording device. The progress of the capsule and colon is recorded with visible X-rays for 24 to 48 hours. Doctors look for signs of intestinal muscle dysfunction when food migrates into and out of the gut.

X-rays of the rectum during bowel movements: During bowel movements, the doctor inserts a soft barium paste into the colon. The doctor guides the paste through the patient’s chair. The paste appears on X-rays that reveal prolapse and problems with muscle function and muscle coordination.

MRI defecography: is a barium defecograph in which the doctor inserts a contrast gel into the rectum. The MRI scanner visualizes and evaluates the function of the stool muscles. The patient passes through the contrast gel, which is then removed.

If constipation persists for months, it is considered chronic. The doctor has to find out what causes the constipation. Tests can diagnose problems caused by constipation, such as rectocele and rectal prolapse.

ICD 10 Code For Chronic Constipation Treatment

They can suggest medications to treat them, or they can suggest that patients make changes in their daily lives. They can advise the patient to eat more fiber, drink more water, exercise more and go to the bathroom more often.

When constipation occurs, the muscles that help the patient defecate stop working. The patient exercises the muscles with the help of a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist inserts a small tube (a catheter) into the rectum. The exercise trains the muscles so that they can do their job again. This training is called biofeedback.

If constipation is caused by the irritable bowel syndrome or chronic idiopathic constipation, doctors may prescribe chloride channel activators such as lubiprostone or amitiza. These work by activating a switch in the cells that drains more fluid from the gastrointestinal tract. This can help relieve stomach pain, soften the stool and prevent patients from straining themselves, which can increase the number of times they have to go to the toilet. To help patients relax, they may need to defecate more often. Patients can go to a training machine that tells them to relax when they have tensed their muscles.

Guanylate Cyclase C agonists can be used in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation. They alleviate the pain in the abdomen and lead to more frequent defecation. They can also help to make the patient more regular. Depending on the cause of constipation, a doctor may suggest one of these: misoprostol or Zytotec may work well, or stimulants for the intestine may work better.

Patients should not take it if they are pregnant. Colchicin probenecid (Col-Probenecid) can help with more bowel movements. It is not recommended for people with kidney problems. Onabotulinum toxina (Botox) is used to treat people with pelvic floor dysfunction. It can help to soften the stool and make walking less painful.

There are different types that contribute in different ways to patients having defecation. Patients can also try laxatives, e.g. Dietary fiber supplements or adding mass to the diet can help patients walk.

They come in all kinds of forms, including:

• tablets
• powders
• chewable tablets
• Docusate sodium (Colace)
• docusates calcium (Surfak)
• Calcium Polycarbophil (Fibercon)
• Methylcellulose Fiber (Citrucel)
• Psyllium
• Metamucil
• Konsyl.
• Stool hardeners draw water from the intestine into the stool. This prevents patients from getting off, making it easier to get through.

Lubricants surround the stool and help it hold fluids as they flow through the body. A mineral oil acts as a lubricant. Osmotics keep water away from the chair. This helps the patient walk more easily and keeps the stool soft enough for him to walk more easily.

The patient should be extra careful if he or she has heart or kidney failure or medication that may cause dehydration or mineral imbalances.

Osmotics include magnesium hydroxide (milk, magnesia, magnesium citrate, lactulose, crystalose, lactol, pizensy, polyethylene glycol and miralax). Stimulants cause the intestine to contract to move the stool.

Stimulants are bisacodyl and ducodyl-dulcolax, senna, sennoside and oral senokot. A doctor may recommend this type of medication if other treatments do not work. Laxatives are not the right remedy for constipation. They are not intended for long-term fiber supplements or the addition of fiber to the diet. Patients should only take laxatives for a short time under medical supervision.

The intake of laxatives can also cause other problems. The use of lubricants deprives the body of important vitamins. If constipation does not get better with other treatments, surgery may be an option. The patient must teach the body again how to defecate.

It depends on what is causing the problem. If constipation is caused by a part of the colon that is not functioning as it should, the patient may need surgery to remove it. Surgical procedures can also help patients with blockages such as rectum herniation (when part or all of the rectum bulges out of the body) and anal tears (small tears in the anus). Surgery can solve these problems.

ICD 10 Code For Chronic Constipation

ICD 10 CM K59.00 Constipation unspecified
ICD 10 CM K59.09 Other constipation
ICD 10 CM K59.04 Chronic idiopathic constipation