ICD 10 CM S25.49 | Description & Clinical Information

ICD 10 S25.49 describes a medical condition characterized by damage or tearing of the blood vessels surrounding the lungs, resulting from various causes such as blunt or penetrating chest trauma from activities like motor vehicle accidents or sports, puncture or gunshot wounds, external compression or force, or injury during catheterization procedures or surgeries, and is identified by healthcare providers as a specific type of injury of the pulmonary blood vessels that is not represented by any other code in this category.

Official Description Of S25.49

The ICD 10 CM book defines ICD 10 code S25.49 as:

Clinical Information

The diagnosis describes by the ICD 10 CM S25.49 code is related to injuries of the pulmonary blood vessels. Such injuries may lead to a range of symptoms including pain, headache, hematoma, bleeding or blood clot, shock, shortness of breath, contusion of the chest wall, variation in distal pulse, fatigue or weakness, hypotension or low blood pressure, discoloration of the skin, and pseudoaneurysm.

To identify the condition, providers perform a comprehensive evaluation which comprises of the patients’ history of trauma and physical examination. The physical examination includes assessing the patient’s sensation, reflexes, and vascular assessment including the presence of bruits. In addition to this, healthcare professionals conduct laboratory studies of the blood for coagulation factors, platelets, and, if contrast imaging studies are planned, BUN and creatinine for evaluation of kidney function.

Imaging studies are also an essential component of the diagnostic evaluation. Providers may order imaging studies such as X-rays, angiography, venography, duplex doppler scan, MRA, and CTA. Among these, pulmonary angiography remains the gold standard to evaluate pulmonary vascular injuries. This diagnostic test requires the insertion of a catheter in the groin or arm to access the pulmonary arteries. A contrast agent is then injected to visualize these vessels, and this can help healthcare professionals make an accurate diagnosis.

If diagnosed early, treatment options for injuries of the pulmonary blood vessels may involve observation, anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy, or physical therapy. For patients who have hypotension, blood pressure support may be necessary. In rare cases, endovascular surgery may be performed, and this involves placing a stent or occluding the vessel. This method of treatment is reserved for patients who have severe pulmonary injuries and have not responded to other less invasive management options.

In conclusion, the ICD 10 CM S25.49 code denotes injuries to the pulmonary blood vessels. The condition can have various symptoms, and it is diagnosed through a thorough evaluation which includes patients’ history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. Timely diagnosis of the condition is crucial, and the treatment involves multiple options, including observation, anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy, physical therapy, and, in severe cases, endovascular surgery.