Athscl nonbiol bypass of the extrm w intrmt claud, left leg

This code signifies the presence of atherosclerosis affecting a non-biological bypass graft in the left leg. The patient experiences intermittent claudication, a symptom of peripheral artery disease characterized by pain in the leg muscles during exercise that resolves with rest. This indicates compromised blood flow through the prosthetic graft due to plaque buildup.

Use this code when documentation confirms a diagnosis of atherosclerosis specifically within a synthetic or non-autologous bypass graft in the left lower extremity. The patient's clinical presentation must include intermittent claudication as a symptom. Supporting documentation would typically include imaging reports (e.g., angiogram, duplex ultrasound) showing graft stenosis and physician notes detailing the patient's symptoms and the location of the affected graft.

• Ensure the documentation clearly specifies a non-biological bypass graft and not an autologous (e.g., saphenous vein) graft.
• Verify the laterality is explicitly stated as the left leg; separate codes exist for the right leg and bilateral involvement.
• Confirm that intermittent claudication is present; other codes exist for atherosclerosis of bypass grafts without claudication or with rest pain.