Q I gave misoprostol to a woman in prodromal labor who was a high-risk pregnancy (due to previous miscarriage and preterm labor that was successfully suppressed with bedrest and nifedipine). What would be the appropriate diagnosis for the misoprostol?
A The fact that this was a high-risk pregnancy has no bearing on the coding for the misoprostol administration. It is the prodromal labor—in which the early phase of labor is prolonged with contractions that do not increase in intensity—that is relevant.
The correct linking diagnosis is 662.0X (prolonged first stage of labor). If she was also preterm at this stage, you may indicate that as a secondary diagnosis.