Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: Which diagnosis code is appropriate for a bloodstream infection due to a Port-a-Cath malfunction?  

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: Your ICD-10-CM code choice in this case is T80.211 (Bloodstream infection due to central venous catheter).

In addition to a bloodstream infection due to portacath (port-a-cath), the ICD-10 index also includes the following diagnoses under T80.211-:

• Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) NOS
• Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
• Bloodstream infection due to Hickman catheter
• Bloodstream infection due to peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)
• Bloodstream infection due to pulmonary artery catheter
• Bloodstream infection due to triple lumen catheter
• Bloodstream infection due to umbilical venous catheter.

Important: T80.211- requires a seventh character based upon the encounter. Your choices are as follows:

• A, Initial encounter. Use while the patient is receiving active treatment for the injury.
• D, Subsequent encounter. Choose for encounters after the patient has received active treatment of the injury and is receiving routine care for the injury during the healing/recovery phase.
• S, Sequela. Select for complications or conditions that arise as a direct result of an injury, such as scar formation after a burn.

Don't forget: A note says to use an additional code to identify the specific infection, such as sepsis (A41.9) and to use the additional code (R65.2-) to identify severe sepsis, if applicable. See (T81.4-) for post procedural infections and (T82.6-T82.7, T83.5-T83.6, T84.5-T84.7 and T85.7) for infections specified as due to prosthetic devices, implants, and grafts.

Includes note: This code includes complications following perfusion.