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General Surgery Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Pseudoaneurysm Is Still an Aneurysm

Published on Tue Oct 12, 2010

Question: My surgeon documented a "pseudo-aneurysm." What is it, and what diagnosis code should I use for it? Washington Subscriber Answer: A pseudoaneurysm is also known as a "false aneurysm." An artery dilates with actual disruption of one or more of its walls, rather than dilating with expansion of all wall layers. The most common cause of this condition is penetrating trauma. For a diagnosis code, check the aneurysm section of your ICD-9 manual. For example, if this aneurysm is located in the femoral artery, you should use 442.3 (Other aneurysm; of artery of lower extremity).
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