What would the appropriate action be?

Patient is admitted with oliguria, pulmonary edema, and dehydration. Labs are remarkable for an elevated creatinine of 2.4, with a baseline of 1.1. Patient was hydrated for 48 hours with drop in creatinine.

What would the appropriate action be?
A . No query is needed because the patient was dehydrated
B . Query the physician to see if acute renal failure is clinically supported
C . Query the physician to see if acute renal failure with tubular necrosis is supported
D . Code acute renal failure since symptoms are there and documented

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

The appropriate action in this case is to query the physician to see if acute renal failure is clinically supported. This is because the patient has signs and symptoms of acute renal failure, such as oliguria, pulmonary edema, and elevated creatinine, but the diagnosis is not documented in the medical record. Acute renal failure is a clinical syndrome characterized by a rapid decline in kidney function and accumulation of metabolic waste products. It can be caused by various factors, such as dehydration, hypovolemia, sepsis, nephrotoxins, or obstruction. Acute renal failure can be classified according to the RIFLE criteria (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage kidney disease) or the AKIN criteria (Acute Kidney Injury Network), which are based on changes in serum creatinine and urine output 23. A query to the physician is needed to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of acute renal failure, specify the etiology and severity of the condition, and document any associated complications or comorbidities. A query to the physician will also improve the accuracy and completeness of the documentation and coding, and reflect the true clinical picture and resource utilization of the patient.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 133 4 2: Acute Kidney Injury: Diagnosis and Management | AAFP 3: AKIN Classification for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) – MDCalc