Portal hypertension

This code describes elevated blood pressure within the portal venous system, typically caused by obstructed blood flow through the liver. It is a serious complication of various liver diseases, leading to conditions like esophageal varices, ascites, and splenomegaly.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states "portal hypertension" as a diagnosis. This often occurs in patients with cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, or other conditions causing increased resistance to portal blood flow. Supporting documentation includes imaging reports (e.g., Doppler ultrasound showing increased portal vein pressure) and clinical findings consistent with its complications.

• Always code the underlying cause of portal hypertension (e.g., K74.60 for cirrhosis) first, as portal hypertension is a manifestation of another condition.
• Do not confuse with essential hypertension (I10) or pulmonary hypertension (I27.-).
• Be sure to also code any associated complications, such as esophageal varices (I85.-) or ascites (R18.8).