2025 ICD-10-CM code I65.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Circulatory System Diseases - Cerebrovascular diseases IX Diseases of the circulatory system Feed
Occlusion and stenosis of the vertebral artery.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter (e.g., place of service, type of visit).Consult the official coding guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity for coding I65.0 is established through the presence of clinical symptoms attributable to vertebral artery occlusion or stenosis, confirmed by objective findings on appropriate diagnostic imaging.The treatment plan should address the identified cerebrovascular pathology and justify the medical intervention.
Neurologists, vascular surgeons, and other specialists managing cerebrovascular diseases are responsible for diagnosing and treating conditions coded with I65.0. The clinical responsibility includes ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests like angiograms or MRIs to confirm the diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment, which may involve medications, procedures to improve blood flow, or surgery in some cases.
In simple words: This code describes a blockage or narrowing of the vertebral artery, a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain.This can lead to reduced blood flow and potential problems.
This ICD-10-CM code, I65.0, signifies occlusion and stenosis of the vertebral artery.It encompasses conditions involving the complete or partial blockage and narrowing of this artery, which supplies blood to the brain.This includes embolism, narrowing, obstruction (complete or partial), and thrombosis of the precerebral artery.It excludes insufficiency of the precerebral artery not otherwise specified (NOS), insufficiency causing cerebral infarction, and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage.
Example 1: A 65-year-old patient presents with dizziness, vertigo, and transient visual disturbances.Angiography reveals significant stenosis of the right vertebral artery. Code I65.0 is applied., A 70-year-old patient with a history of hypertension experiences a sudden onset of weakness on one side of the body. Imaging shows occlusion of the left vertebral artery causing a stroke. Code I65.0 is used in conjunction with other codes to specify the type of stroke., A 50-year-old patient with a history of smoking and atherosclerosis undergoes a carotid endarterectomy.Post-operative imaging shows partial occlusion of the vertebral artery. Code I65.0 can be used alongside procedural codes to represent the post-operative finding.
Detailed clinical history, including symptoms (e.g., dizziness, weakness, visual disturbances), relevant risk factors (e.g., hypertension, smoking, atherosclerosis), and results of diagnostic tests (e.g., angiography, MRI, CT scan) confirming the occlusion or stenosis of the vertebral artery are required for accurate coding.
** Always review the latest version of ICD-10-CM guidelines for any updates or clarifications on code I65.0.The presence of additional conditions may require additional coding to reflect the complete clinical picture.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable to this diagnosis code.
- Specialties:Neurology, Vascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital (Inpatient and Outpatient), Ambulatory Surgical Center