Cement embolism of pulm artery without acute cor pulmonale

This code signifies the presence of a cement embolism within the pulmonary artery, occurring without the immediate development of acute cor pulmonale. This condition typically arises as a complication of orthopedic procedures, particularly vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, where bone cement extravasates into the venous system and travels to the lungs.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a pulmonary artery embolism caused by cement, and there is no mention of acute cor pulmonale. This is often identified through imaging studies (e.g., CT angiography) following a procedure involving bone cement. The patient may present with respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea or chest pain, but without signs of acute right heart strain.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies the embolic material as "cement" to differentiate from other types of pulmonary emboli.
• Verify the absence of acute cor pulmonale; if present, a different code from the I26 category would be more appropriate.
• Consider sequencing this code after the primary procedure code (e.g., vertebroplasty) if the embolism is a direct complication.