Coronary artery dissection

This code represents a spontaneous or iatrogenic tear in one of the coronary artery walls, leading to a separation of the layers and potentially forming a false lumen. This dissection can compromise blood flow to the myocardium, causing acute coronary syndromes such as myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death.

Use this code for documented cases of coronary artery dissection, whether spontaneous (SCAD) or related to medical intervention (e.g., during percutaneous coronary intervention). Documentation should clearly state the presence of a dissection in a coronary artery, often confirmed by angiography or other imaging studies.

• Differentiate between spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and iatrogenic dissection; this code covers both.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if it is a co-morbidity impacting treatment.
• Do not confuse with coronary artery aneurysm (I25.41) or atherosclerosis of coronary artery (I25.10-I25.79).