Common ventricle

This code describes a severe congenital heart defect where the heart has only one functional ventricular chamber instead of the normal two (right and left ventricles). This single ventricle receives blood from both atria, leading to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. It is a critical malformation requiring complex surgical management.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of common ventricle, single ventricle, or univentricular heart. This diagnosis is typically made prenatally via fetal echocardiogram or postnatally based on clinical presentation and diagnostic imaging such as echocardiography, cardiac MRI, or cardiac catheterization.

• Ensure documentation specifies "common ventricle" or "single ventricle" rather than other complex congenital heart defects.
• Do not confuse with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS), which are distinct conditions.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the main reason for the encounter, especially for initial diagnosis or surgical planning.