Pre-exist hyp heart disease comp pregnancy, third trimester

This code signifies a pregnant patient in her third trimester who has a pre-existing diagnosis of hypertensive heart disease. This condition involves structural and functional changes to the heart due to chronic high blood pressure, which is now complicating the current pregnancy.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a pre-existing diagnosis of hypertensive heart disease in a pregnant patient who is currently in her third trimester. Supporting documentation would include a history of hypertension with cardiac involvement (e.g., left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure) prior to conception or early in pregnancy, and current gestational age confirming the third trimester.

• Always confirm the trimester of pregnancy; incorrect trimester assignment is a common error.
• Distinguish from gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia, which are distinct conditions.
• Sequence this code first when it is the primary reason for the encounter, followed by codes for the specific cardiac complications if documented.