I70.441
BillableAtherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration of thigh
HCC Category Mapping
RxHCCHCC 311 — Diabetic and Chronic Skin Ulcer
0.000What This Code Means
Hardening of arteries in a vein graft of the left leg with an open sore on the thigh due to poor blood circulation.
Coding Tips
- •Ensure the affected side is documented as left leg to distinguish from right leg codes
- •Confirm ulcer location is specifically on the thigh rather than other leg areas
Clinical Significance
This code identifies atherosclerosis in autologous vein bypass grafts with ulceration of thigh, indicating significant peripheral arterial insufficiency causing tissue breakdown. Ulceration complicating bypass graft atherosclerosis signals graft stenosis or failure with inadequate distal perfusion, requiring wound care management and potential revascularization. Accurate capture matters for risk adjustment as it reflects the progression from stable peripheral arterial disease to limb-threatening ischemia.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of peripheral arterial disease or atherosclerosis affecting the bypass graft
- ✓Identification of graft type as autologous vein (if autologous vein is confirmed, document the vein source; if type is unknown, document it as unspecified)
- ✓Laterality clearly stated as left leg
- ✓Ulcer site specifically documented (in this case, thigh)
- ✓Ulcer severity, size, and depth documented (consider Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection classification or similar staging)
- ✓Causal link between atherosclerotic graft disease and the ulceration must be established in the documentation
- ✓Current wound care plan and treatment documented
- ✓History of bypass graft surgery with date and indication when available
Commonly Confused Codes
I70.3xx (unspecified type bypass graft codes) — Use I70.3xx when the graft type is not documented; use I70.4xx (autologous vein) only when the graft is confirmed as the patient's own veinI70.5xx (nonautologous biological bypass graft codes) — Use when the graft is a biological material from a donor (cadaveric vein, bovine graft), not the patient's own veinI70.6xx (nonbiological bypass graft codes) — Use for synthetic grafts such as polytetrafluoroethylene or Dacron, not for autologous vein graftsI70.2xx (native artery atherosclerosis codes) — Use for atherosclerosis of native arteries, not bypass grafts; verify whether disease is in the graft or native vesselL97.xxx (non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb) — Use L97 as an additional code for ulcer severity/laterality, but the primary etiology code should be the I70 code when atherosclerosis is the underlying cause
Code Hierarchy
└I70Atherosclerosis└I70.4Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities└I70.44Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration└I70.441Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration of thigh
└I70.441Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration of thigh