Wiki coding dilated atrium.

[aparscal]

Hi,.
when I am coding an echo looking up "left atrium mildy dilated. I am not sure if I should be coding I77.819 or I51.7. In the book or in encoder I was going to dilated,.dilation-see dilation. Dilation, aorta, see-estasia, aorta I77.819.

I'm beginning to think that is not correct and I should be coding I51.7. Do you agree?

Please clarify.

 

[BrettAAPC]

You should not code as aortic dilation, since the atrium and the aorta are distinct components of the heart. Dilation -> cardiac gives you further options to choose between subterms "congenital" or "valve." If the documentation supports congenital, then go that route. "Valve" is not an option since the atrium is a chamber of the heart, not a heart valve. If there's no documentation that it is congenital, you'll go Dilation -> cardiac -> see also Hypertrophy, cardiac. There, you've got more subterm options to consider including "fatty" and "hypertensive." If those don't match, go with the default code I51.7 (Cardiomegaly).