The medical diagnosis code I74.9, categorized under the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), is assigned to “Embolism and thrombosis of unspecified artery.” This code is crucial for medical billing and statistical tracking, specifically when dealing with arterial blockages caused by blood clots, but the exact location of the artery is not specified. Understanding this diagnosis code is essential for healthcare professionals involved in coding, billing, and medical record keeping.
Decoding ICD-10-CM Code I74.9
ICD-10-CM code I74.9 is a billable and specific code, meaning it is precise enough to be used for reimbursement claims. This code officially came into effect on October 1, 2015, with the introduction of the non-draft ICD-10-CM, and the latest 2025 edition remains current as of October 1, 2024. It’s important to note that while this is the American version of the ICD-10-CM, international versions of ICD-10 for I74.9 might have slight differences.
This code, I74.9, falls under a group of codes that may have annotation back-references. These back-references point to codes that include various annotations such as “Applicable To,” “Code Also,” “Code First,” “Excludes1,” “Excludes2,” “Includes,” “Note,” or “Use Additional” annotations, which might be relevant when considering I74.9 in a broader diagnostic context.
Synonyms for Diagnosis Code I74.9
To better grasp the scope of I74.9, it’s helpful to know the approximate synonyms associated with this diagnosis code:
- Arterial embolism
- Arterial thrombosis
- Embolism of artery
- Occlusion of artery
- Septic arterial embolism
- Septic embolus of artery
These synonyms clarify that I74.9 is used when a patient is diagnosed with a blockage in an artery due to an embolism (a traveling blood clot or other particle) or thrombosis (blood clot formation within the artery), and further specifies that this blockage is arterial in nature. The term “occlusion” simply means the artery is blocked. “Septic” specifies that the embolism is infected.
History and Context within ICD-10-CM
The code I74.9 was introduced in 2016 with the first non-draft ICD-10-CM version and has remained unchanged through the 2025 update. This stability indicates its continued relevance and accuracy in classifying embolism and thrombosis of unspecified arteries. It is categorized within Diagnostic Related Groups (MS-DRG v42.0), which are used for hospital inpatient classifications for payment purposes.
Within the ICD-10-CM code set, I74.9 is positioned among related codes that specify embolism and thrombosis in different arterial locations. Codes adjacent to I74.9 include more specific locations such as:
- I74.09: Other arterial embolism and thrombosis of abdominal aorta
- I74.1: Embolism and thrombosis of other and unspecified parts of aorta
- I74.2: Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of the upper extremities
- I74.3: Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of the lower extremities
- I74.8: Embolism and thrombosis of other arteries
These adjacent codes highlight that I74.9 is used when the location of the arterial embolism or thrombosis is not specified in the medical documentation. When the specific artery is known, a more precise code from the I74 category should be used.
Conclusion
In summary, diagnosis code I74.9, “Embolism and thrombosis of unspecified artery,” is a vital tool in medical coding for cases where arterial blockage by a blood clot is diagnosed, but the particular artery is not specified. Its consistent use since 2016 and ongoing relevance in the ICD-10-CM system underscores its importance for accurate medical record-keeping, billing, and statistical analysis in healthcare. For precise diagnoses and coding, healthcare providers should strive to identify the specific artery affected whenever possible to utilize more specific ICD-10-CM codes within the I74 category.
