Secundum atrial septal defect

This code represents a congenital heart defect characterized by an opening in the atrial septum, specifically within the fossa ovalis region. This defect allows for shunting of blood between the atria, typically from left to right, leading to volume overload of the right heart chambers and pulmonary circulation.

This code is used when documentation clearly identifies a secundum atrial septal defect, which is the most common type of atrial septal defect. It is appropriate for both newly diagnosed cases and for patients with a known history of this specific defect, whether managed conservatively or post-repair. Documentation should specify "secundum" to differentiate from other ASD types.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "secundum" to avoid miscoding other atrial septal defects.
• Do not use this code for patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a different anatomical entity.
• Consider additional codes for associated conditions, such as pulmonary hypertension, if documented.