I63.012
BillableCerebral infarction due to thrombosis of left vertebral artery
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 249 — Ischemic or Unspecified Stroke
0.289V24HCC 100 — Ischemic or Unspecified Stroke
0.262ESRDHCC 100 — Ischemic or Unspecified Stroke
0.000What This Code Means
A stroke caused by a blood clot in the left vertebral artery, one of the main blood vessels supplying the brain.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm laterality is documented as 'left' in the medical record
- •Distinguish from right-sided or bilateral vertebral artery thrombosis
Clinical Significance
Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of the left vertebral artery causes posterior circulation ischemic stroke affecting brain stem, cerebellar, and occipital structures. The left vertebral artery is the dominant vertebral artery in many patients, making thrombosis particularly consequential. Accurate laterality-specific coding supports proper risk adjustment and reflects the specificity of clinical documentation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Imaging confirmation of acute cerebral infarction in posterior circulation territory
- ✓Vascular imaging confirming thrombosis of the left vertebral artery
- ✓Documentation explicitly stating left-sided involvement
- ✓Neurological examination with posterior circulation stroke findings
- ✓Stroke onset timing and treatment administered
- ✓Stroke etiology workup results
Commonly Confused Codes
I63.011 — Thrombosis of right vertebral artery; opposite lateralityI63.019 — Thrombosis of unspecified vertebral artery; use only when side is unknownI63.112 — Embolism of left vertebral artery; different mechanismI63.212 — Unspecified occlusion or stenosis of left vertebral artery; does not identify thrombosisI65.02 — Occlusion of left vertebral artery without cerebral infarction; no stroke has occurred
Code Hierarchy
└I63Cerebral infarction└I63.0Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of precerebral arteries└I63.01Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of vertebral artery└I63.012Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of left vertebral artery
└I63.012Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of left vertebral artery