Q&A: Using 2023 ICD-10-CM codes for aortic dissections and ruptures

Q: What is the difference between an aortic dissection and a rupture, and how are these conditions reported in ICD-10-CM?

A: An aortic dissection is a serious condition in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the aorta. Blood flows through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to split or dissect. If the blood goes through the outside aortic wall, the dissection may be deadly.

Effective October 1, coders may report the following new ICD-10-CM codes for aortic dissections:

• I71.010, dissection of ascending aorta
• I71.011, dissection of aortic arch
• I71.012, dissection of descending thoracic aorta
• I71.019, dissection of thoracic aorta, unspecified

These new dissection codes are major complications or comorbidities (MCC).

An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta, which can rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Beginning October 1, coders may report the following new codes for ruptured and non-ruptured aneurysms of the thoracic aorta, ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending thoracic aorta:

• I71.10, thoracic aortic aneurysm, ruptured, unspecified
• I71.11, aneurysm of the ascending aorta, ruptured
• I71.12, aneurysm of the aortic arch, ruptured
• I71.13, aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, ruptured
• I71.20, thoracic aortic aneurysm, without rupture, unspecified
• I71.21, aneurysm of the ascending aorta, without rupture
• I71.22, aneurysm of the aortic arch, without rupture
• I71.23, aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, without rupture

Codes I71.10-I71.13 for aneurysms with rupture are MCCs.

Editor’s note: This question was answered by Kimberly Cunningham, CCS, CPC, instructor for the Certified Coder Bootcamp programs at HCPro in Middleton, Massachusetts, during the webinar, “JustCoding's 2023 ICD-10-CM Code Updates.” This Q&A originally appeared in JustCoding Inpatient.