CAUSE(S) OF DEATH
Variable 146
date of last revision: 04/01/06
DEFINITION:
The first coded cause of death is the primary cause. Thereafter list secondary cause and/or external cause of death, if applicable. For more information, see: 16a.Guidelines coding cause of death, in Appendix C.
CODE:
Code the two boxes for the ICD-9-CM codes and the box for the External Cause of Injury Codes (E-codes) as follows.

ICD-9-CM code boxes:
For a list of ICD-9 codes, refer to an ICD-9 code manual at your facility.

777.77 Person expired but cause of death unknown.
888.88 Not Applicable--person alive, or no other internal cause of death indicated, or death due to external causes.
999.99 Unknown if person expired


E-code box:
For an abbreviated list of E-codes, see: 24a.ICD-9-CM E-code categories in Appendix K. A complete list of E-codes is available at E-Code list-complete.

*77777 Person expired but cause of death unknown.
*88888 Not Applicable--person alive, or death not due to external causes.
*99999 Unknown if person expired
CHARACTERS:
3 numeric
4 numeric
5 numeric
NOTE:
Submit Form I data to the data base on patients which expire anytime after inpatient rehabilitation has begun and prior to definitive discharge from inpatient rehabilitation; even if the patient was transferred back to acute care from rehabilitation prior to expiring.

If autopsy was performed obtain report, document cause(s) of death by use of ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes or E-codes if applicable.

If using death certificate information, usually code the 3rd number. First number is immediate cause, second number is the cause of the immediate cause, and the third number is the more underlying cause.

Numbers should be coded just as they appear on the record and not padded with zeros.

The look-up boxes on the database screen provide the E-Codes and their definitions. When taking E-Codes from the Medical Record, they should be checked to ensure that they reflect the best / most current information available about the cause of the injury. Data collectors may submit E-Codes that differ from those recorded in the Medical Record in cases where they feel the Medical Record E-Codes may not reflect the best / most current information available. There should be clear documentation on the data collection form when an E-Code entered into the database does not reflect the E-Code recorded in the Medical Record. In unusual cases where no E-Code relative to the injury that resulted in traumatic brain injury is recorded in the Medical Record, the data collector should use best judgement and the consultation of other personnel, as necessary, to determine the appropriate E-Code from the TBIMS database list.

Do not use the codes on the death certificate because they may not be accurate and because they may be ICD-10 codes.

*ICD-9 codes that are preceded by "E" or "V" are entered into 146c, never into 146a or b.
SOURCE:
UAB
EXAMPLE:
Patient died of unspecified septicemia (primary cause) and unspecified pneumonia (secondary).

ICD-9-CM codes:038.9 (primary); 486._ (secondary)

E CODE: 88888

Traumatic Brain Injury Model System National Database Live Syllabus V10.3
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