Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare but serious form of heart failure that develops during the final month of pregnancy or within five months after delivery in women with no prior history of heart disease. It involves a weakening of the heart muscle, leading to reduced pumping function and symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling.

This code is used when a patient develops new-onset cardiomyopathy specifically during the peripartum period. Documentation should clearly indicate the onset of heart failure symptoms and diagnosis within the specified timeframe, and confirm the absence of pre-existing cardiac conditions.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "peripartum cardiomyopathy" or clearly describes new-onset cardiomyopathy within the peripartum window.
• Do not use this code if the patient had pre-existing heart disease; refer to codes in category O99.4-.
• Sequence this code as the principal diagnosis when it is the primary reason for the encounter during the peripartum period.