I70.619

Billable

Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with intermittent claudication, unspecified extremity

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 108 — Vascular Disease

0.297

ESRDHCC 108 — Vascular Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

Hardening and narrowing of an artificial blood vessel graft causing leg pain or cramping during walking that goes away with rest, but the specific leg location is not specified.

Coding Tips

•This code should be used only when laterality cannot be determined from documentation; query the provider for clarification when possible.
•This is less specific than codes ending in 1, 2, 3, or 8; attempt to obtain laterality information before finalizing the code.

Clinical Significance

This code captures atherosclerosis affecting nonbiological (synthetic) bypass graft(s) of the extremities with intermittent claudication in the unspecified extremity, representing Fontaine Stage II peripheral arterial disease. Claudication in the context of bypass graft atherosclerosis indicates graft stenosis or progressive native vessel disease causing reproducible exercise-induced muscle pain. While less immediately threatening than rest pain or gangrene, this signals graft compromise requiring surveillance duplex imaging and potential intervention.

Documentation Requirements

✓Confirmed diagnosis of atherosclerosis affecting nonbiological (synthetic) bypass graft(s)
✓Type of bypass graft material documented (synthetic/nonbiological vs. other type such as composite or mixed-material graft)
✓Laterality clearly documented (unspecified extremity)
✓History of bypass graft surgery with approximate date or timeframe
✓Current status and monitoring plan for the bypass graft
✓Documentation of exercise-induced muscle pain with specific walking distance or duration before onset
✓Relief of symptoms with rest and reproduction with activity
✓Vascular studies (ankle-brachial index at rest and post-exercise) confirming arterial etiology
✓Differentiation from spinal stenosis (neurogenic claudication) and other causes of leg pain with activity

Commonly Confused Codes

I70.511-I70.519 — Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft with claudication; different graft material I70.411-I70.419 — Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft with claudication; for autologous vein grafts I70.311-I70.319 — Atherosclerosis of unspecified bypass graft with claudication; only when graft type is unknown I70.211-I70.219 — Atherosclerosis of native arteries with claudication; for disease in native vessels, not grafts I70.711-I70.719 — Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft with claudication; for composite or other graft types M47.816-M47.819 — Spondylosis with neurogenic claudication; spinal stenosis causing leg pain mimicking vascular claudication

Code Hierarchy

└I70Atherosclerosis └I70.6Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities └I70.61Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with intermittent claudication └I70.619Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with intermittent claudication, unspecified extremity

└I70.619Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with intermittent claudication, unspecified extremity