Cerebral venous thrombosis in the puerperium

This code signifies the presence of a blood clot within the venous sinuses of the brain that occurs during the puerperium, the period immediately following childbirth. This condition can lead to increased intracranial pressure, neurological deficits, and, if untreated, severe complications.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) occurring postpartum. This includes cases where the patient presents with symptoms such as severe headache, seizures, focal neurological deficits, or altered mental status during the puerperal period, and imaging confirms the presence of a thrombus in a cerebral vein.

• Ensure documentation specifies the puerperal period; otherwise, a non-puerperal CVT code may be more appropriate.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter.
• Differentiate from other types of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage not caused by venous thrombosis.