Oth athscl nonbiol bypass of the extremities, unsp extremity

This code signifies the presence of atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup, specifically affecting a nonbiological (synthetic) bypass graft in any part of the extremities. This condition impairs blood flow through the graft, potentially leading to ischemia or graft failure. The specific extremity affected is not documented or specified.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates atherosclerosis within a synthetic bypass graft in an extremity, and the medical record does not specify which extremity is involved. This often occurs in cases of peripheral artery disease (PAD) where a previous bypass surgery using a synthetic graft has subsequently developed atherosclerotic changes. Supporting documentation would include operative reports, imaging studies (e.g., angiogram, duplex ultrasound) showing plaque formation in the graft, and physician notes describing the condition.

• Ensure the graft is explicitly documented as "nonbiological" or "synthetic" (e.g., Dacron, PTFE).
• If the specific extremity (right, left, bilateral) is known, a more specific code from the I70.6- series should be used.
• Code also any associated complications, such as rest pain, ulceration, or gangrene, as secondary diagnoses.