Occlusion and stenosis of left posterior cerebral artery

This diagnosis code signifies a narrowing or complete blockage of the left posterior cerebral artery. This condition restricts blood flow to the occipital lobe and parts of the temporal lobe, potentially leading to visual disturbances, memory issues, or other neurological deficits depending on the severity and location of the occlusion.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states an occlusion or stenosis affecting the left posterior cerebral artery. This typically occurs in patients presenting with symptoms of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) localized to this specific vascular territory. Supporting documentation includes imaging reports (e.g., MRI, MRA, CT angiography) confirming the anatomical location of the stenosis or occlusion.

• Differentiate from occlusion/stenosis of the right posterior cerebral artery or other cerebral arteries.
• Always sequence this code after any acute cerebrovascular event (e.g., I63.x) if applicable, as it represents the underlying cause.
• Ensure documentation specifies "left" posterior cerebral artery; otherwise, an unspecified laterality code may be more appropriate.