Validity of Using ICD-9-CM Codes to Identify Selected Categories of Obstetric Complications, Procedures and Co-morbidities

Background: The ability to measure and track changes in risk-adjusted obstetric complication rates using administrative data underpins efforts to improve obstetric quality of care, but the validity of this approach has not been adequately evaluated. We sought to assess the validity of using composites of ICD-9-CM codes to identify selected categories obstetric complications and risk factors associated with complications. Methods: Patients with ICD-9-CM codes for obstetric trauma/laceration, infection, haemorrhage, episiotomy or obesity discharged between January 2009 and March 2010 were identified in the study hospital's administrative data. One hundred medical records with ICD-9-CM codes of interest were randomly selected for review from each of the five categories. An additional 60 medical records without the ICD-9-CM codes of interest served as controls for each category. Sensitivity and specificity for the selected categories was estimated using inverse proportional weighting to adjust for sampling based on presence of one of the ICD-9-CM codes of interest. Results: Weighted sensitivities ranged from 0.15 [95% CI 0.11, 0.20] for obesity to 1.00 for overall infection while specificities ranged from 0.994 [95% CI 0.987, 0.998] for obesity to 0.999 [95% CI 0.996, 1.000] for episiotomy. Obese patients were not reliably identified and it was not possible ascertain whether some diagnoses were present on admission. Conclusions: For selected categories of obstetric complication diagnoses, use of composite sets of ICD-9-CM codes may be a valid method to identify patients within these complication categories.     

选择性术中胆管造影在腹腔镜胆囊切除术中的应用体会

目的：探讨选择性术中胆管造影在腹腔镜胆囊切除术中的应用价值。方法：对我院在腹腔镜胆囊切除术中选择性行胆管造影52例临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果：造影成功50例,成功率96.2%。术中发现胆总管结石3例,胆管变异1例,无并发症发生。结论：选择性术中胆管造影在腹腔镜胆囊切除术中可防止术后胆管结石残留,避免不必要的胆管探查,明确胆管变异,预防胆管损伤,有效提高了LC质量和安全性,有较高的临床应用价值。     

Hospitalizations for injury: United States, 1996

OBJECTIVES: This report presents national estimates of the 1996 hospitalizations for injury in the United States. Numbers and rates of discharges are shown within sex, age, and racial groups by type of injury. Average lengths of stay and days of care data by injury type are also included. METHODS: Estimates are based on medical abstract data collected in the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Diagnoses are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Injuries are defined as ICD-9-CM codes 800-999. External causes of injury are defined as codes E800-E999 (E-codes). RESULTS: In 1996, there were 2.6 million hospitalizations for injury. Fractures resulted in over a million hospitalizations; medical injuries, including adverse effects and complications, were responsible for 666,000 hospitalizations. The medical records for 64 percent of the patients hospitalized for injuries had an external cause-of-injury code (E-code). Elderly people had the largest number and rate of injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Data on injuries requiring hospitalization and characteristics of patients differentially affected can be used to design and target more effective injury prevention programs. Preventing injuries would decrease the considerable pain, disability, and economic impact associated with these conditions.     

Hospital admissions for infectious diseases: 1999-2003 incidence in one health district in the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain

BACKGROUND:. Infectious diseases are still currently one of the leading causes of death and illness. Their dynamic nature justifies the epidemiological study thereof. This study is aimed at analyzing the incidence of infectious diseases most often conditioning hospital admissions. METHODS: A study was conducted of those individuals admitted to hospital during the 1999-2003 period whose main diagnosis at admission to hospital had been encoded according to the International Disease Classification (ICD 9-CM) as an infectious disease in the Minimum Basic Data Set. A total of 2010 active infectious disease codes were selected and were grouped into 25 groups as per the ICD 9-CM. The target population was that of one district in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. RESULTS: A total of 9.7% of the admissions during the period under study (8,585 records) were due to an infectious disease. Those affected averaged 38 years of age, median age of 37, standard deviation 31 and the range of 1-102 years. The admissions of males (54.5%) prevailed over females (48.5%). The incidence rate of admissions due to infectious diseases was 728 cases / 100,000 inhabitants / year. The highest rate of admissions was among young children and the elderly. The groups of diseases showing the largest number of admissions were, in descending order, infectious digestive, respiratory and genitourinary diseases. CONCLUSION: The hospital admissions due to infections diseases totaled one tenth of the admissions, and 7/1000 inhabitants/year required hospitalization for an infectious disorder. The highest incidence rates were found for intestinal diseases, digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tract diseases among the childhood-aged population, but also, although in smaller percentages, among individuals over 65 years of age.     

Preferred provider organization claims showed high predictive value but missed substantial proportion of adults with high-risk conditions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We assessed the validity and utility of a claims-based ICD-9-CM algorithm for identifying preferred provider organization (PPO) enrollees ages 18-64 years at high risk for influenza complications. METHODS: PPO enrollees with >/= 2 encounters in an ambulatory setting or >/= 1 encounters in an inpatient or emergency room setting with ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for the high-risk conditions were considered algorithm positive. Stratified random sampling was used to select 1,001 algorithm-positive and 330 algorithm-negative enrollees for medical chart abstractions. RESULTS: The prevalence of high-risk conditions using claims data was 2.5% compared to 18.2% according to medical records. The algorithm had a sensitivity of 12% and a specificity of 99%. Positive and negative predictive values were 87 and 84%, respectively. Sensitivity was twofold higher among adults aged 50-64 years than among younger adults (17 vs. 9%). Applying an algorithm definition of >/= 1 encounters in any setting resulted in an increased sensitivity, but captured a higher proportion of false positives. CONCLUSION: A claims-positive record was highly indicative of the presence of high-risk conditions, but such claims missed a large proportion of PPO enrollees with high-risk conditions. It is important to assess the validity of administrative data in different age groups.     

Hospital discharge diagnoses of ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest were useful for epidemiologic research

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the validity of hospital discharge diagnosis regarding ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. METHODS: We identified patients whose record in the PHARMO record linkage system database showed a code for ventricular or unspecified cardiac arrhythmias according to codes of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, clinical modification (ICD-9-CM). The validity of ICD codes for ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest (427.1, 427.4, 427.41, 427.42, 427.5, 427.69) and ICD codes for unspecified cardiac arrhythmias (427.2, 427.60, 427.8, 427.89, 427.9) was ascertained through manual review of hospital clinical records. The positive predictive value (PPV) was calculated, and differences between characteristics of true and false positives were evaluated. RESULTS: The PPV of ICD codes for ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest was 82% (95% confidence interval CI = 72-92). True positive results were associated with male gender (P = .09) and younger age (P = .05). Of the unspecified cardiac arrhythmias 10% (95% CI = 2-18) were identified as ventricular arrhythmias or cardiac arrest. CONCLUSION: Hospitalizations for ventricular cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest (coded according to ICD-9-CM as paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular flutter, ventricular premature beats, or cardiac arrest) have a high PPV and are useful for selecting events in epidemiological studies on drug-induced arrhythmias.     

Bile duct injuries after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Eight years after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy a decrease of the incidence of bile duct injuries is reported in the literature. The incidence of a bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now slightly higher than after open cholecystectomy. A minority of these injuries are detected during surgery. Most patients have a delayed identification of the bile duct injury, even after discharge from the hospital. An early diagnostic work-up with ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is mandatory in every patient with persisting symptoms (more than 48 hours) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Still, one-third of the patients are subjected to a 'diagnostic' exploratory laparotomy without preoperative visualization of the biliary tract by ERCP or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Minor lesions are mostly treated successfully by endoscopy with a stent. After transection of the bile duct surgical reconstruction by a hepaticojejunostomy has to be performed. A delayed elective reconstruction was associated with fewer complications than acute repair under suboptimal circumstances such as local inflammatory changes and bile leakage.     

医源性胆道损伤的诊治体会

目的:探讨医源性胆道损伤的原因和处理方法.方法:回顾性分析20例医源性胆道损伤患者的临床资料.结果:损伤类型以胆管横断和部分切除等为多,行胆管-空肠Roux-en-y吻合11例,胆管对端吻合2例,胆管修补2例,胆道引流或单纯腹腔引流5例,其中1例行开腹胆囊切除术(OC)后并发胆瘘,予腹腔引流后出现多脏器功能衰竭死亡,其余均治愈.结论:胆囊切除术是医源性胆道损伤的主要原因,损伤后治疗处理效果重在及时发现,早期处理.     

Outcome measurement in laparoscopic cholecystectomy by using a prospective complication registry: results of an audit.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess and discuss the utility of a complication registry for determining outcome and delivered care in surgery. METHOD: All patients with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy between 1998 and 2006 were analysed. Complications were prospectively documented and evaluated according to outcome measures mentioned in literature (bile duct injury, morbidity, mortality and conversion rate) for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. In addition, all patient files were evaluated for possible risk factors and non-registered complications. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred fifty four Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies were performed, with 207 complications in 152 (12%) patients. Eighteen (9%) events were additionally found after evaluating all medical files. Thirteen (1%) bile duct injuries occurred, 7% (n = 91) morbidity, no mortality and 18% (n = 226) conversion rate. The probability of complications was significantly higher in patients diagnosed with complicated gallstone disease, ASA 3/4, > 70 years, acute and converted procedures. Thirty % (n = 63) of all documented adverse events reflected issues other than traditionally mentioned outcome measures, categorised as hospital-provider errors or miscellaneous. CONCLUSION: Ninety % of all complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy were documented in our registry. Factors associated with a high probability of complications were identified and 30% of all events reflected issues other than traditionally mentioned outcome measures for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. The registry can be used for outcome measurement, however differences in case mix and data collection methods should be taken into account.     

基于DRGs理论谈规范应用疾病编码的必要性

目的说明规范国际疾病编码标准性是实现DRGs的重要前提。方法任意抽取了185份出院病历作为研究对象,分别使用本土化的ICD-10国际编码(广东省疾病编码库)和《疾病分类与代码(GB/T 14396-2012版)》,以下简称"国标库")及ICD-9-CM手术操作编码诊断和操作编码的一致程度作统计对比。结果主要诊断和主要手术操作的编码不一致性均大于50%。结论规范ICD-10国际疾病编码和ICD-9-CM手术操作编码标准对于实现DRGs合理分组具有重大意义。     

Acute occupational respiratory diseases in hospital discharge data

We investigated the feasibility of using hospital discharge diagnoses of ICD codes 506, 507, and 508, respiratory diseases from external sources, to identify occupational sentinel health events [SHE(O)]. Two hundred sixty-nine records were reviewed and 66 (25%) were incidents where the work-relatedness of the respiratory diseases was documented in the medical records. Twenty-six percent of the 269 records contained no exposure information. Sixty-four of the 66 occupational cases were from ICD codes 506.0-506.9, with the largest number classified as ICD codes 506.0 (bronchitis and pneumonitis due to fumes and vapors) and 506.3 (other acute and subacute respiratory conditions due to fumes and vapors). We conclude that surveillance of ICD codes in the 506 series, where 39% of the cases were secondary to occupational exposures, is a valuable component of a surveillance system for preventable occupational lung disease.     

Application of severity measurement systems for hospital quality measurement

As hospitals increasingly emphasize efforts to measure and improve quality of care, the related issue of severity measurement emerges as a topic of strong interest. Severity measures can support hospital quality management in at least two areas: selection of medical records for individual case review and monitoring of patterns of care including analysis of rates of adverse outcomes. Some systems currently available for measuring the severity of general medical and surgical admissions in acute care hospitals base severity scores on data available in computerized discharge abstracts, while others use detailed clinical data abstracted directly from patient medical records. One is based on both detailed medical record data and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes. This article discusses issues important to the definition and measurement of patient severity and examines the strengths and limitations of specific systems and their potential contributions to quality management.     

Feasibility study for identifying adverse events attributable to vaccination by record linkage.

To investigate the feasibility of using a record linkage method for identifying vaccine attributable adverse events, computerized hospital admissions and vaccination records from South East Kent district were linked and checked for accuracy. Records for 90% of children under 2 years of age admitted to hospital over a 2-year period were matched with vaccination records using a computer algorithm based on name, date of birth, sex, and post-code supplemented by visual inspection. Relative to this gold standard, matching on date of birth, sex and postcode alone had a sensitivity of 60% and an incorrect match rate of 0.2% after matches to more than one vaccine recipient were excluded. Manual checking of a sample of admissions showed that only 4% had been assigned incorrect International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. Routine record linkage of ICD admission codes to vaccination records therefore yields data of good quality which may be used for surveillance purposes.     

Laparoscopic cholescystectomy in a rural family practice: the Vivian, LA, experience

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of family physicians safely and effectively performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a community hospital, as compared with published case series in the surgical literature. METHODS: A case series of self-referred patients from the surrounding community to a family physician-run community hospital in rural Louisiana from 1992 to 2001. The cohort represented a consecutive, volunteer convenience sample of self-referred patients requiring laparoscopic cholecystectomy, aged 18 to 89 years, of diverse demographic background. Main outcome measures included mortality, complication, reoperation, and conversion to open procedure rates. RESULTS: One hundred eight patients have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy; there have been no deaths; 2 cases were converted to open procedures; no common bile duct injuries, postoperative complications, or long-term complications. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this series of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were similar to those of other case series and met published standards of care.     

Coronary heart disease surveillance: field application of an epidemiologic algorithm

This report describes the performance of a surveillance system and computerized algorithm for the assignment of definite or probable hospitalized cardiac events for large epidemiologic studies. The algorithm, developed by the Coordinating Committee for Community Demonstration Studies (CCCDS), evolved from the Gillum criteria, and included selected ICD-9-CM codes including codes 410 through 414 for discharge record screening, plus creatine kinase. For the small percentage of cases in which enzyme analysis was inconclusive (8%), presence of pain and/or Minnesota-coded electrocardiograms were included to define the outcome. All data items were easily obtained from medical records by trained lay record abstractors and required no interpretation. From January 1980 through December 1991, 21,183 medical records were screened for ICD-9-CM codes 410 through 414. Of all 410 to 411 ICD-9-CM codes (n = 9026), 36.9% (n = 3220) were classified as definite cardiac events and 10.6% (n = 1057) as probable events. Of all 412 through 414 codes (n = 9070), only 1.8% (n = 227) were classified as definite cardiac events and 5.4% (n = 716) as probable events. The epidemiologic diagnostic algorithm presented in this article used computerized data to assign diagnoses in a standard, objective manner, and was a lower cost alternative to classification of cardiac events on the basis of clinical review and/or more complex record abstraction approaches.     

腹腔镜胆总管切开取石T管引流术在老年患者中的应用

目的总结老年患者腹腔镜胆总管切开取石T管引流术的临床经验。方法回顾性分析56例胆囊合并胆总管结石患者在腹腔镜下行胆囊切除及胆总管切开取石术的术式及病例资料特点。结果52例在腹腔镜联合胆道镜下成功行胆囊切除及胆总管切开取石T管置入术,无死亡病例。结论腹腔镜联合胆道镜行胆囊切除、胆总管切开探查取石、T管引流术具有安全可靠、损伤小、康复快、住院时间短等优点,是治疗胆囊结石、胆总管结石的有效方法。     

Does Date Stamping ICD‐9‐CM Codes Increase the Value of Clinical Information in Administrative Data?

CONTEXT: Comorbidity measures are designed to exclude complications when they map International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM) codes to diagnostic categories. The use of data fields that indicates whether each secondary diagnosis was present at the time of hospital admission may lead to the more accurate identification of preexisting conditions. OBJECTIVE: To examine the rate of misclassification of ICD-9-CM codes into diagnostic categories by the Dartmouth-Manitoba adaptation of the Charlson index and by the Elixhauser comorbidity algorithm. DATA SOURCE: Analysis of 178,838 patients in the California State Inpatient Database (CA SID) admitted in 2000 for one of seven major medical and surgical conditions. The CA SID includes a condition present at admission (CPAA) modifier for each ICD-9-CM code. STUDY DESIGN: The Dartmouth/Charlson index and the Elixhauser comorbidity measure were used to map the ICD-9-CM codes into diagnostic categories for patients in each study population. We calculated the misclassification rate for each mapping algorithm, using information from the CPAA as the "gold standard." PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The Dartmouth/Charlson index underestimated the prevalence of hemiplegia/paraplegia by 70 percent, cerebrovascular disease by 70 percent, myocardial infarction by 65 percent, congestive heart failure (CHF) by 45 percent, and peptic ulcer disease by 34 percent. The Elixhauser algorithm misclassified complications as preexisting conditions for 43 percent of the coagulopathies, 25 percent of the fluid and electrolyte disorders, 18 percent of the cardiac arrhythmias, 18 percent of the cardiac arrhythmias, and 9 percent of the cases of CHF. CONCLUSION: Adding the CPAA modifier to administrative data would significantly enhance the ability of the Dartmouth/Charlson index and of the Elixhauser algorithm to map ICD-9-CM codes to diagnostic categories accurately.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Apropos of 1570 cases

We realized a retrospective study concerning 1570 cases of celioscopic cholecystectomy screened during 6 years: from September 1995 to August 2001. There were 1328 females and 242 males with a wean age of 50 years. 256 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. There were one operative death. The morbidity is weak 2.1%. The rate of conversion is 12.4%. We performed 999 operative cholangiography, we found 82 common bile duct stones. Cholangiography should be systematic.     

A retrospective study to evaluate the quality of medical charts and discharge abstracts in several Rome hospitals

Previous studies have shown that the quality of medical records is not uniform across Italian hospitals. Between March 2002 and January 2003, we assessed the quality of 6,215 medical charts regarding admissions to 11 different Rome hospitals in the year 2001. The hospitals were located within the territory of the ROMA "A" and ROMA "C" Local Health Units. The following were evaluated: 1) organization, format and lay-out of medical records; 2) medical chart and discharge abstract compilation; 3) ICD-9-CM coding accuracy. The quality of medical records and of discharge abstracts, as judged especially by their format and by the completeness, accuracy, congruency and clearness of the reported information, varied extensively among the different wards and hospitals. The main problems were identified and possible solutions are discussed. We suggest that improved quality of medical records and discharge abstracts may be promoted through: 1) use of a standardized format for medical records in all wards of the same hospital; a supplement may eventually account for the characteristic requirements of specialist wards; 2) adoption of guidelines for medical record-keeping and of a code of conduct for discharge abstract coders; 3) use of a new discharge abstract form that favours more accurate ICD-9-CM coding and that allows more effective gathering of clinical data for epidemiological purposes.