Cerebral Petechial Hemorrhage

Per Coding Clinic, Second Quarter 2024:

Definition: 

A petechial hemorrhage of the brain is the same as a hemorrhagic stroke therefore, a separate code is assigned for intracerebral hemorrhage when the provider documents a petechial hemorrhage of the brain.

Code Example: 

A patient was admitted to the ICU for an acute embolic ischemic left MCA stroke, a left ACA stroke with petechial hemorrhage, and a subacute right frontoparietal stroke, in the setting of atrial flutter. The patient was admitted to the ICU due to the risk of significant cerebral edema or hemorrhagic transformation.

Code Assignment:

• I61.8:   Other nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, for petechial hemorrhage.
• Also assign the appropriate codes for the MCA, ACA, and the right frontoparietal strokes.

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