Cerebral infarction due to embolism of left vertebral artery

This code signifies a stroke caused by a blockage in the left vertebral artery, specifically due to an embolus (a traveling clot or other foreign material). This type of infarction results in tissue death in the brain region supplied by this artery.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states an ischemic stroke due to an embolism affecting the left vertebral artery. Supporting documentation typically includes imaging reports (e.g., MRI, CT scan) confirming infarction and physician notes specifying the embolic etiology and affected vessel.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "embolism" as the cause, not "thrombosis," as these have different codes.
• Verify laterality; this code is specific to the left vertebral artery.
• Always sequence this code first as the primary diagnosis when it represents the reason for the encounter.