Wiki CTEPH;chronic thromboembloic pulmonary hypertention

[lstickley7906]

How would you code? 416.2 only? chronic pulmonary embolism. the def: covers the hypertention. need second opinion.

 

[Dhaneshmurali]

Ctph - 416.2,416.8

Hi,

Chronic is a medical term that describes a disease or condition that continues for a period of months or years. A Pulmonary Thromboembolism refers to the clots that travel from veins in the body (emboli) and clog the arteries in the lungs. Once lodged in the lung arteries, they can cause more clots to form (thrombosis) and add more resistance to the blood flow through the lung.

This increased resistance from the clots increases the pressure inside the lungs. The medical term for increased pressure is Hypertension. Combining these key words gives us the meaning of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries that lasts six months or longer. The condition often happens after there is a pulmonary embolism.


416.2 code description states chronic pulmonary embolism only. Eventhough pulmonary embolism leading to pulmonary hypertension, we cannot assume it is included in 416.2 code.

I will go with 416.8 as an additional code to 416.2 code. Code 416.8 not only mentioned pulmonary hypertension NOS, but also it describe pulmonary hypertenion secondary to other disease conditions.

Regards,
Dhanesh M