K76.6
BillablePortal hypertension
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 63 — End-Stage Liver Disease
0.307V24HCC 27 — End-Stage Liver Disease
0.910ESRDHCC 27 — End-Stage Liver Disease
0.000What This Code Means
Abnormally high blood pressure in the portal vein system that carries blood to the liver, often causing serious complications.
Coding Tips
- •Identify and code the underlying cause (cirrhosis, thrombosis, etc.) as the primary diagnosis
- •Document any complications such as varices, ascites, or encephalopathy separately
Clinical Significance
Portal hypertension represents elevated pressure in the portal venous system, often leading to life-threatening complications like variceal bleeding and ascites. This condition indicates advanced liver disease or vascular abnormalities requiring intensive monitoring and specialized care.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Evidence of elevated portal venous pressure (>10 mmHg)
- ✓Clinical signs such as splenomegaly, ascites, or varices
- ✓Imaging showing portal venous system abnormalities
- ✓Endoscopic evidence of esophageal or gastric varices
- ✓Laboratory findings suggesting hypersplenism
- ✓Documentation of underlying liver disease or vascular cause
- ✓Measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient when available
- ✓Evidence of portosystemic collateral circulation
Use Additional Code
- code for any associated complications, such as:
- portal hypertensive gastropathy (K31.89)
Commonly Confused Codes
K74.60 — Unspecified cirrhosis may cause portal hypertension but is the underlying conditionI85.9 — Esophageal varices are complications of portal hypertensionK76.7 — Hepatorenal syndrome is a different complication of liver diseaseK92.2 — GI bleeding may result from portal hypertension but is the symptomR18.8 — Ascites is a manifestation rather than the primary diagnosis