Coding Rules Current as at 18-Oct-2016 08: 31

*Please note the 8th Edition coding standard is ACS 0224 Palliative care

Published 15 June 2015,
for implementation 01 July 2015.

Ref No: Q2864 | Published On: 15-Jun-2015 | Status: Current

SUBJECT: Posterior cerebral artery syndrome with infarction 

Q:

What is the correct code assignment for posterior cerebral artery syndrome with infarction:

I66.2† Occlusion and stenosis of posterior cerebral artery and G46.2* Posterior cerebral artery syndrome (I66.2†) 

or 

I63.5 Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of cerebral arteries? 

A:

The dagger and asterisk pair I66.2† Occlusion and stenosis of posterior cerebral artery and G46.2* Posterior cerebral artery syndrome (I66.2†) can only be assigned following the index pathway:

Syndrome

- cerebral artery

- - posterior I66.2†, G46.2*

For posterior cerebral artery syndrome with infarction there is no legitimate dagger and asterisk pair that can be assigned. Codes from category I66 are clearly excluded when resulting in cerebral infarction.

Therefore the correct code to assign for posterior cerebral artery syndrome with infarction NOS is I63.5 Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of cerebral arteries.

Do not assign G46.2* Posterior cerebral artery syndrome (I66.2†) as an additional code as an asterisk code can only be assigned with its corresponding dagger code as specified in the Alphabetic Index.

A proposal to update ICD-10 has been submitted to the World Health Organization.