Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Is 426.82 appropriate for an ECG interpretation that shows long QT interval?

Iowa Subscriber

Answer: No. The appropriate code for your case is 794.31 (Nonspecific abnormal electrocardiogram [ECG] [EKG]).

"Care should be taken not to confuse long QT syndrome (426.82) with an electrocardiographic finding of long QT interval (794.31)," states ICD-9 Coding Clinic (2005 Vol. 22, No.4).

Before you use 426.82 (Long QT syndrome), be sure documentation shows a definitive diagnosis of the syndrome. Names you may see include Romano-Ward syndrome and Jervell-and-Lange-Nielsen syndrome, which also may be called cardioauditory syndrome or surdocardiac syndrome. The term cardioauditory indicates that both the cardiac electrical system disorder and congenital deafness are part of Jervell-and-Lange-Nielsen.

Bonus tip: Physicians may use a score sheet to help diagnose long QT syndrome, taking into account personal and family history of conditions such as syncope and deafness, as well as certain ECG findings.