I71.41
BillablePararenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, without rupture
HCC Category Mapping
What This Code Means
A weakened, bulging area in the abdominal aorta located near the renal arteries (pararenal region) that has not ruptured.
Coding Tips
- •Document the size of the aneurysm and any growth over time, as this affects surveillance and intervention decisions
- •Pararenal location may require specialized surgical techniques if intervention becomes necessary
Clinical Significance
Abdominal aortic aneurysm without rupture (pararenal) is a potentially life-threatening condition involving pathological dilation of the abdominal aorta, most commonly in patients over 65 with a history of smoking, hypertension, and atherosclerotic disease. The primary risk is aneurysm rupture, which increases significantly with aneurysm diameter (5% annual rupture risk at 5.0-5.9 cm, increasing sharply above 6 cm). Patients require structured surveillance with serial imaging, cardiovascular risk factor modification, and surgical referral when size thresholds are met, driving ongoing healthcare utilization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Abdominal aortic aneurysm documented — location: pararenal
- ✓Non-ruptured status confirmed
- ✓Aneurysm diameter documented (current measurement and comparison to prior when available)
- ✓Imaging modality and findings (ultrasound, CT angiography, or MRI)
- ✓Relationship to renal arteries when documented (infrarenal, juxtarenal, pararenal — affects surgical approach)
- ✓Surveillance plan documented (imaging interval based on size)
- ✓Risk factor management (blood pressure control, smoking cessation, statin therapy)
- ✓Surgical repair threshold and referral status when approaching intervention criteria