New codes related to respiratory acidosis are now in place.
Acute respiratory acidosis is now indexed to J96.02 (Acute respiratory failure with hypercapnia).
Chronic respiratory acidosis is now indexed to J96.12 (Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia).
Respiratory acidosis unspecified remains indexed to E87.29 (Other acidosis).
Definitions
Acute respiratory acidosis occurs when carbon dioxide builds up very quickly before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance.
Chronic respiratory acidosis occurs over a long time. This leads to a stable situation because the kidneys increase body chemicals, such as bicarbonate, that help restore the body’s acid-base balance.
Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when your lungs can’t remove all of the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This causes the blood and other body fluids to become too acidic.