I63.013
BillableCerebral infarction due to thrombosis of bilateral vertebral arteries
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 blood clots in both vertebral arteries, the paired blood vessels in the neck that supply the brain.
Coding Tips
- •This code requires explicit documentation of bilateral vertebral artery involvement
- •Bilateral thrombosis is relatively rare and should be confirmed by imaging
Clinical Significance
Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of bilateral vertebral arteries is an extremely rare and catastrophic cerebrovascular event that severely compromises posterior circulation blood flow to the brain. Bilateral vertebral thrombosis can lead to basilar artery occlusion syndrome with devastating neurological consequences including locked-in syndrome or death. This reflects the highest acuity of cerebrovascular care.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Imaging confirmation of acute cerebral infarction
- ✓Vascular imaging (CTA, MRA, or angiography) confirming bilateral vertebral artery thrombosis
- ✓Explicit documentation of bilateral involvement
- ✓Detailed neurological examination documenting severity of posterior circulation compromise
- ✓Emergency treatment documentation and time of intervention
- ✓Evaluation for hypercoagulable states or other systemic causes of bilateral thrombosis
Commonly Confused Codes
I63.011/I63.012 — Unilateral vertebral artery thrombosis; only one side involvedI63.019 — Unspecified vertebral artery thrombosis; laterality unknownI63.02 — Basilar artery thrombosis; may occur secondary to bilateral vertebral thrombosis but is a different vesselI63.113 — Bilateral vertebral artery embolism; different mechanism
Code Hierarchy
└I63Cerebral infarction└I63.0Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of precerebral arteries└I63.01Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of vertebral artery└I63.013Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of bilateral vertebral arteries
└I63.013Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of bilateral vertebral arteries