I77.0
BillableArteriovenous fistula, acquired
HCC Category Mapping
V24HCC 108 — Vascular Disease
0.297ESRDHCC 108 — Vascular Disease
0.000What This Code Means
An abnormal connection between an artery and vein that develops after an injury, surgery, or medical procedure. Blood flows directly from the artery into the vein, bypassing normal circulation.
Coding Tips
- •Specify the location of the fistula when documented (e.g., arteriovenous fistula of extremity)
- •Distinguish from congenital arteriovenous fistula (Q27.3) which requires different coding
Clinical Significance
Acquired arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection between an artery and vein that develops after trauma, surgery, or other insult, as opposed to congenital arteriovenous malformations. These fistulas can cause localized symptoms (swelling, pulsatile mass, bruit) or systemic hemodynamic effects (high-output cardiac failure) depending on size and location. Accurate coding distinguishes this from surgically created dialysis fistulas.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of acquired (not congenital) arteriovenous fistula
- ✓Location and involved vessels
- ✓Etiology (traumatic, iatrogenic, post-surgical)
- ✓Hemodynamic significance assessment
- ✓Clinical findings (bruit, thrill, pulsatile mass, edema)
- ✓Treatment plan (observation, embolization, surgical repair)
Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together
Commonly Confused Codes
Q27.3x — Arteriovenous malformation, peripheral: congenital rather than acquiredZ99.2 — Dependence on renal dialysis: dialysis access fistula is purposefully created, not pathologicalI77.1 — Stricture of artery: arterial narrowing rather than AV communicationT81.71x — Complication of artery following a procedure: procedural vascular complication with different specificity
Code Hierarchy
└I77Other disorders of arteries and arterioles└I77.0Arteriovenous fistula, acquired
└I77.0Arteriovenous fistula, acquired