I82.211

Billable

Chronic embolism and thrombosis of superior vena cava

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 267 — Vascular Disease

0.356

V24HCC 108 — Vascular Disease

0.297

ESRDHCC 108 — Vascular Disease

0.000

RxHCCHCC 215 — Pulmonary Embolism and Other Vascular Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

A blood clot that has formed in the superior vena cava (the large vein that returns blood from the upper body to the heart) and has persisted over time. This chronic condition can restrict blood flow from the upper body and may cause swelling in the arms, neck, and face.

Coding Tips

•Verify documentation specifies 'chronic' status; acute thrombosis of the superior vena cava uses different codes (I82.210)
•Look for associated conditions such as malignancy, central venous catheters, or hypercoagulable states that may require additional coding

Clinical Significance

Chronic superior vena cava thrombosis reflects long-standing venous obstruction that may cause persistent upper body edema and collateral vein development. It typically indicates ongoing management with anticoagulation and monitoring for complications such as recurrent thrombosis or post-thrombotic syndrome. Accurate coding captures the sustained resource utilization these patients require.

Documentation Requirements

✓Clinical diagnosis of venous thrombosis or thrombophlebitis clearly documented by the treating provider
✓Diagnostic confirmation via duplex ultrasonography, CT venography, MR venography, or venography with imaging findings described
✓Current treatment plan including anticoagulation regimen with specific medication, dose, and duration
✓Documentation of chronic or long-standing nature of the thrombosis, including original date of diagnosis if available
✓Documentation of any associated central venous devices, malignancy, or precipitating factors
✓Assessment of superior vena cava syndrome symptoms (facial/upper extremity edema, dyspnea, venous distension)

Commonly Confused Codes

I82.220/I82.221 — Inferior vena cava thrombosis; involves the IVC returning blood from the lower body, not the SVC I87.1 — Compression of vein; use for external compression rather than intrinsic thrombosis I82.290/I82.291 — Thrombosis of other thoracic veins; use for thoracic veins other than the SVC I82.0 — Budd-Chiari syndrome; involves hepatic veins specifically, not the SVC I82.210 — Acute SVC thrombosis; verify acute vs. chronic status carefully

Code Hierarchy

└I82Other venous embolism and thrombosis └I82.2Embolism and thrombosis of vena cava and other thoracic veins └I82.21Embolism and thrombosis of superior vena cava └I82.211Chronic embolism and thrombosis of superior vena cava

└I82.211Chronic embolism and thrombosis of superior vena cava