Stricture of artery

This code represents a pathological narrowing or constriction of an artery, which can impede blood flow. This stricture can be caused by various factors, including atherosclerosis, inflammation, or trauma, leading to symptoms such as ischemia or claudication depending on the affected vessel.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a "stricture" or "stenosis" of an artery, without further specification of the underlying cause or a more specific anatomical site that has its own dedicated code. This code is appropriate for general arterial strictures when a more precise diagnosis is not available or not yet determined.

• Do not use if a more specific code for the cause of the stricture (e.g., atherosclerosis with stenosis) or a specific anatomical site (e.g., renal artery stenosis) is available.
• Requires physician documentation of an arterial stricture; simply noting "narrowing" may require clarification.
• Consider sequencing with codes for associated conditions such as hypertension or peripheral artery disease, if applicable.