Cerebral infarction due to thombos unsp vertebral artery

This code signifies an ischemic stroke resulting from a blood clot (thrombosis) obstructing an unspecified vertebral artery, leading to a lack of blood flow and tissue death in the brain. It indicates that the specific vertebral artery (right or left) involved was not documented.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a cerebral infarction due to vertebral artery thrombosis, but the laterality (right or left) of the affected artery is not specified. This is appropriate for acute or subacute ischemic events where the etiology is confirmed as thrombotic.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "thrombosis" as the cause of the infarction, not embolism or unspecified occlusion.
• If laterality (right or left) of the vertebral artery is documented, use the more specific codes I63.011 or I63.012.
• Always sequence this code after any acute stroke codes (e.g., I63.x) and before codes for sequelae or associated conditions.