Z40-Z54: Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and health care
Z49: Care involving dialysis
The group of conditions known as Care Involving Dialysis (coded as Z49 in the ICD-10 WHO 2016 classification) comprise situations in which a patient is undergoing dialysis. Dialysis is a medical procedure that performs the job of the kidneys when they're not able to. This can happen in case of chronic kidney disease or acute kidney damage. Symptoms that may lead to dialysis include a decline in urine output, swelling in the legs, ankles, and around the eyes, unexplained shortness of breath, fatigue, persistent nausea, and confusion. Dialysis helps by removing waste, salt, and extra water from the body and maintaining safe levels of certain chemicals in the blood. There are primarily two kinds of dialysis - hemodialysis where blood is cleaned in a machine outside the body and peritoneal dialysis where the cleaning is done inside the body. Both procedures require regular sessions, potentially extending over years if the kidney function does not recover.
Patient Disclaimer
The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns about your health.
If you see an ICD diagnosis code (e.g., on a medical report), be aware that doctors may also include additional indicators to express diagnostic certainty. Only a healthcare professional can interpret these codes accurately in the context of your individual case.
For a complete understanding of your condition and what the diagnosis means for you, please speak directly with your doctor.