Key result
A Delphi process for translating ICD-9 to ICD-10 emergency general surgery codes identified 1579 final codes, of which 55.7% were missed by automated MapIT software.
Why the study?
Since the transition to ICD-10, a Delphi process to define emergency general surgery diagnoses had not been performed, leaving automated mapping software largely unverified.
A Delphi-created ICD-10 EGS codeset provides a more robust and accurate translation of ICD-9 codes than automated mapping software alone.
Expert consensus may refine ICD-10 EGS codesets beyond automated mapping; leaves open validation in outcome studies and databases.
Objective: This study provides an up-to-date diagnosis framework for the study of emergency general surgery (EGS) patients. A final list of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes was the main outcome for the study. Codes were compared with the number codes generated by MapIT alone. Background: Since transition to ICD-10, a Delphi process to define EGS diagnoses, as originally described for the ICD, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codeset, has not been performed. Automated mapping software (MapIT) has been utilized, with a few studies verifying the translation. Methods: Using previously defined ICD-9 EGS codes, MapIT was used to identify ICD-10 EGS codes. Review of adjacent codes in a Delphi process resulted in a finalized list of ICD-10 codes. Delphi and MapIT codes were quantified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to compare rates to the ICD-9 era. Results: MapIT identified 935 ICD-10 codes from 485 ICD-9 codes. Manual review identified an additional 1907 adjacent codes. In total, after the modified Delphi process, 1579 (55.6%) of manually and MapIT-identified codes were included in the final codeset. After initial mapping, 880 (55.7%) of the final codes did not automatically map through the software. MapIT codes resulted in a significantly decreased number of patient encounters in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample compared with Delphi codes in the ICD-10 era. Conclusions: The Delphi-created ICD-10 EGS codeset provides a more robust, accurate translation of the ICD-9 codes than MapIT software. This codeset can be used to inform EGS research to study and improve EGS patients' care.
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Sanderfer et al. (2025) studied Emergency general surgery. Delphi process vs. Automated mapping software (MapIT) was evaluated on Final list of ICD-10 codes. A Delphi process for translating ICD-9 to ICD-10 emergency general surgery codes identified 1579 final codes, of which 55.7% were missed by automated MapIT software.
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