Acute vascular insufficiency of intestine

This code represents a sudden and severe reduction in blood flow to the intestines, leading to tissue damage or death. It encompasses conditions like mesenteric artery embolism, thrombosis, or non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia, where the intestinal blood supply is acutely compromised.

Assign this code for patients presenting with acute onset of abdominal pain, often severe and disproportionate to physical findings, accompanied by signs of intestinal ischemia such as bloody stools, nausea, vomiting, or peritonitis. Documentation should clearly indicate an acute vascular event affecting the intestines, confirmed by imaging (e.g., CT angiography) or surgical findings.

• Differentiate from chronic mesenteric ischemia, which has a separate code.
• Ensure documentation specifies "acute" to support this code; otherwise, consider unspecified intestinal vascular insufficiency.
• Code any underlying cause (e.g., atrial fibrillation for embolism) as an additional diagnosis.