K70.40
BillableAlcoholic hepatic failure without coma
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 63 — End-Stage Liver Disease
0.307V24HCC 28 — Cirrhosis of Liver
0.390ESRDHCC 28 — Cirrhosis of Liver
0.000What This Code Means
Severe liver failure caused by chronic alcohol use where the liver can no longer perform its vital functions, but the patient is alert and conscious.
Coding Tips
- •This code indicates acute decompensation of alcoholic liver disease; ensure documentation distinguishes between hepatic encephalopathy (coma) and other complications
- •Verify that coma/encephalopathy is not present; if present, use K70.41 instead
Clinical Significance
Alcoholic hepatic failure without coma represents end-stage liver disease where the liver cannot perform vital functions, though cognitive function remains intact. This condition has extremely high mortality risk and requires immediate intensive care with urgent transplant evaluation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of hepatic failure diagnosis
- ✓Alcohol as causative factor clearly stated
- ✓Absence of coma or encephalopathy documented
- ✓Laboratory evidence of liver failure
- ✓Assessment of synthetic liver function
- ✓Evaluation of mental status
- ✓Transplant candidacy evaluation
- ✓Intensive care management plan
Commonly Confused Codes
K70.41 — Alcoholic hepatic failure with coma includes encephalopathyK70.31 — Alcoholic cirrhosis with ascites may preserve some functionK72.10 — Chronic hepatic failure without alcohol specificationG93.1 — Anoxic brain damage is different etiologyF10.27 — Alcohol-induced persisting dementia is chronic cognitive
Code Hierarchy
└K70Alcoholic liver disease└K70.4Alcoholic hepatic failure└K70.40Alcoholic hepatic failure without coma
└K70.40Alcoholic hepatic failure without coma