Postprocedural heart failure following cardiac surgery

This code signifies the development of heart failure as a direct complication after a patient has undergone any type of cardiac surgery. It indicates a new onset or significant worsening of heart function attributable to the surgical intervention itself, rather than a pre-existing, stable condition.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states heart failure occurred post-cardiac surgery. This includes scenarios such as new-onset heart failure, decompensation of pre-existing heart failure directly linked to the surgery, or acute heart failure developing in the immediate or delayed postoperative period. Physician documentation must clearly link the heart failure to the cardiac surgical procedure.

• Always sequence this code after the code for the specific type of heart failure (e.g., I50.xx).
• Ensure the documentation specifies "postprocedural" or "postoperative" heart failure following cardiac surgery to justify its use.
• Distinguish from pre-existing heart failure that was not exacerbated by the surgery; this code is for a complication of the procedure.