Leakage of heart valve prosthesis, sequela

This code describes the long-term or late-onset complication of a heart valve prosthesis that is no longer functioning optimally due to leakage. This leakage, also known as regurgitation, means blood is flowing backward through the prosthetic valve, leading to impaired cardiac function. It signifies a persistent issue arising from the initial valve replacement.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with symptoms or findings (e.g., new murmur, heart failure symptoms, echocardiographic evidence) of a leaking prosthetic heart valve, and this leakage is considered a chronic or residual problem from the original surgery. This applies to situations where the leakage is not an acute, immediate post-operative complication but rather a sequela.

• Always ensure documentation clearly links the leakage to the presence of a prosthetic heart valve.
• This code requires a seventh character 'S' for sequela, indicating a complication that is a residual effect of a previous injury or disease.
• Do not use for acute, immediate post-operative leakage; consider codes from the T82.0XXA or T82.0XXD series for initial or subsequent encounters of acute complications.