Q20.0

Billable

Common arterial trunk

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 191 — Congenital Heart/Circulatory Disorders and Fontan Circulation

0.000

What This Code Means

A serious heart defect present at birth where a single arterial trunk arises from the heart instead of separate pulmonary artery and aorta.

Coding Tips

•Document the type of truncus arteriosus (Type A, B, or C) if specified
•Note any associated cardiac defects or genetic syndromes

Clinical Significance

Common arterial trunk (truncus arteriosus) is a severe cyanotic congenital heart defect requiring immediate surgical intervention in infancy for survival. This complex malformation involves a single arterial vessel arising from the heart instead of separate pulmonary artery and aorta, creating life-threatening hemodynamic abnormalities.

Documentation Requirements

✓Echocardiographic confirmation of single arterial trunk
✓Documentation of associated truncal valve abnormalities
✓Presence of ventricular septal defect
✓Cyanosis documentation and oxygen saturation levels
✓Surgical intervention history (truncus repair, conduit placement)
✓Current hemodynamic status and function
✓Associated anomalies or complications
✓Ongoing cardiology management and monitoring

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

aortic septal defect (Q21.4)

Commonly Confused Codes

Q25.0 — patent ductus arteriosus Q21.3 — tetralogy of Fallot Q20.1 — double outlet right ventricle Q25.1 — coarctation of aorta I25.1 — atherosclerotic heart disease (acquired condition)

Code Hierarchy

└Q20Congenital malformations of cardiac chambers and connections └Q20.0Common arterial trunk

└Q20.0Common arterial trunk