Cerebral infrc due to thrombosis of right carotid artery

This code signifies an ischemic stroke resulting from a blood clot forming within the right carotid artery, leading to a lack of blood flow to a portion of the brain. This specific type of cerebral infarction is caused by a thrombotic event rather than an embolic one.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of the right carotid artery. This diagnosis is typically supported by imaging studies (e.g., MRI, CT scan) confirming infarction and vascular studies (e.g., carotid ultrasound, MRA) identifying a thrombotic occlusion in the right carotid artery.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "thrombosis" as the cause, not "embolism," as this impacts the fourth character of the code.
• Verify the laterality is explicitly stated as "right" carotid artery; otherwise, an unspecified laterality code may be more appropriate.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter, followed by any associated conditions or sequelae.