A: Artery dissections are coded under intimal tear and we do not have a code for bilateral under intimal tear. I would code 321004.3 for the left vertebral artery with its subsequent PCA infarction, and 321002.2 for the right side.
Q: On page 67 of the AIS 2005 Manual, the last code 321021.5 has “œbilateral” as descriptor. Does “œbilateral” mean “œbilateral thrombosis” or “œbilateral neurological deficit”? We have a patient who sustained bilateral vertebral artery dissection and thrombosis with left PCA territory infarction. CT scan states” Apparent migration of intraluminal thrombus arising from the left vertebral artery, resulting in occlusion of the calcarine branch of the left posterior cerebral artery” How should we code this case?
Jun 1, 2013 | Chest | 0 comments