Hope this will shed some light on the subject for you. Coding CVA is sometimes really tricky.
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with late effects
******Coding Clinic, Second Quarter 1989 Page: 8 Effective with discharges: July 31, 1989
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Cerebrovascular Accident with Late Effects
In order to classify cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with late effects correctly, the coder should be aware that if the CVA culminates in neurological deficits, they occur immediately.
Initial onset of CVA with neurologic deficits (hemiplegia, dysphagia, dysphasia, asphasia, and/or other paralysis, such as of eye muscles) are coded to categories 430--434 if the type of CVA is known, such as cerebral hemorrhage or thrombosis. Code also any neurologic deficit still present at the time of discharge. If the CVA is not further described, assign code 436, Acute, but ill-defined, cerebrovascular disease. Code also the neurologic deficit.
Note from 3M:
As of October 1, 1997, category 438 has been expanded to fourth and fifth digits to indicate specific types of late effects of cerebrovascular disease (e.g., aphasia (438.11), hemiplegia (438.2x), monoplegia (438.3x and 438.4x)).
The continuing presence of the neurologic deficit(s) following initial onset is coded and an additional code of 438, Late effects of cerebrovascular disease, is assigned. The second sentence in the "Note:" under code 438 should be interpreted as follows:
(1) Sequelae (neurologic deficits), or
(2) Present (neurologic deficits) one year or more after onset of the causal condition
The reference to sequelae takes into consideration that in some cases the neurologic deficit diminishes or disappears within weeks or months of the CVA, while in other cases the neurologic deficits may remain permanently (present one or more years after). The degree of impairment varies from case to case.
A late effect is the residual effect (condition produced) present after the termination of the acute phase of an illness or injury. The residual may be apparent, as in CVAs, or it may occur much later, as with a previous injury or illness. A "new CVA" is a repeat hemorrhage or thrombosis of a new or same site.
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