Injury to abdominal aorta

This code signifies a traumatic injury specifically affecting the abdominal segment of the aorta. This can include lacerations, punctures, contusions, or ruptures of this major blood vessel within the abdominal cavity, often resulting from blunt or penetrating trauma.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of injury to the abdominal aorta due to external forces. This is typically seen in emergency department settings following accidents, falls, or assaults, and supported by imaging reports (e.g., CT scan, angiography) and operative notes.

• Differentiate from injuries to other abdominal vessels; this code is specific to the aorta.
• Always code the external cause of injury (E-code) in conjunction with this diagnosis.
• Ensure documentation specifies the abdominal aorta, as injuries to other aortic segments (thoracic, unspecified) are coded differently.