Atheroembolism of kidney

This code signifies the presence of an atheroembolism affecting the kidney. This condition occurs when cholesterol crystals or atherosclerotic plaque fragments dislodge from a larger artery and travel to the renal arteries, causing obstruction and potential renal ischemia or infarction. It is a form of acute kidney injury resulting from embolic phenomena.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates an atheroembolic event impacting renal function or structure. This typically involves a patient with underlying atherosclerosis who develops sudden kidney dysfunction, often after an invasive vascular procedure or spontaneous plaque rupture. Supporting documentation would include imaging findings (e.g., renal angiography showing occlusions), biopsy results, or clinical notes explicitly stating "atheroembolism of kidney" or "cholesterol emboli syndrome affecting kidneys."

• Distinguish from other causes of renal artery occlusion, such as thrombosis (I74.10) or embolism from a cardiac source (I74.2).
• Always code the underlying atherosclerosis (e.g., I70.90) as an additional diagnosis if documented.
• Consider sequencing this code as the principal diagnosis if it is the primary reason for admission and treatment.