NIHSS score 22

This code indicates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 22, which signifies a severe neurological deficit following an acute ischemic stroke. The NIHSS is a systematic assessment tool used to quantify the severity of stroke-related neurological impairment. A score of 22 reflects significant functional limitations across multiple domains, including consciousness, language, motor function, and sensation.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states an NIHSS score of 22 for a patient experiencing an acute stroke. This score is typically obtained during the initial evaluation of a stroke patient in an emergency setting or upon admission. The physician's assessment and the specific NIHSS score must be clearly documented in the medical record.

• Always ensure the specific NIHSS score is documented; do not infer from general descriptions of severe stroke.
• This code is a secondary diagnosis and should be sequenced after the primary diagnosis code for the acute stroke (e.g., I63.x).
• Do not use this code if the NIHSS score is different, even if it's close to 22; there are specific codes for each score.