Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: The cardiologist's documentation indicates testing an existing pacemaker and finding several episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia, leading him to place an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Which ICD-9 code should I report?

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: The appropriate code for sustained ventricular tachycardia is 427.1 (Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia). Although the descriptor uses the word "paroxysmal," the ICD-9 index points you to 427.1 for sustained ventricular tachycardia.

Term tip: Ventricular tachycardia is a very fast heart rate (for example, between 150 to 250 beats per minute) originating in the ventricles.