Chronic passive congestion of liver

This code represents a long-standing condition where blood flow through the liver is impaired, leading to a buildup of blood and fluid within the organ. This congestion is typically a consequence of right-sided heart failure or other conditions causing elevated pressure in the hepatic veins. The liver becomes enlarged and firm due to the chronic venous stasis.

Use this code for patients diagnosed with chronic passive congestion of the liver, often documented as "nutmeg liver" due to its characteristic appearance. Documentation should clearly indicate the chronicity of the congestion and its impact on liver function or morphology. This code is appropriate when the underlying cause, such as congestive heart failure, is also documented.

• Always code the underlying cause of the chronic passive congestion, such as congestive heart failure, as the primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter.
• Distinguish from acute passive congestion of the liver, which would be coded differently.
• Look for terms like "nutmeg liver," "cardiac cirrhosis," or "congestive hepatopathy" in the documentation to support this diagnosis.