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Poliki Venkatesh Shared DVT Coding Insights
Nov 27, 2025, 05:07

Poliki Venkatesh Shared DVT Coding Insights

Poliki Venkatesh, Junior Executive Medical Coder at CorroHealth, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) — Coding Insights
Accurate DVT coding supports correct risk adjustment, severity scoring, and reimbursement.
Coding:
Definition: Formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, commonly in the legs.
ICD Code Range: I82.-
Common Types:
I82.4- — Acute embolism and thrombosis of deep veins of lower extremities
I82.5- — Chronic embolism and thrombosis
I82.6- — Acute embolism and thrombosis of upper extremities
I82.8- — Embolism/thrombosis in other specified veins
Documentation Requirements:
Acute vs chronic
Location: femoral, popliteal, tibial, iliac, etc.
Laterality: right, left, bilateral
Provoked or unprovoked (after surgery, immobility, trauma)
Associated conditions: PE, varicose veins, pregnancy, cancer
Example: Acute DVT of left femoral vein → I82.412 (Acute embolism and thrombosis of left femoral vein).
DVT Treatment & Management

  1. Acute Management:
    Anticoagulation (first-line)
    Heparin (IV/SC)
    LMWH – Enoxaparin
    DOACs – Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran
    Thrombolytics (in severe cases):
    tPA (Alteplase) for massive DVT with limb threat
    IVC Filter Placement
    Used when anticoagulation is contraindicated or PE risk is high
    Hospital Monitoring
    Bleeding risk
    Clot progression
    Renal function if using DOACs
  2. Supportive Care:
    Compression stockings – prevent swelling & post-thrombotic syndrome
    Elevation of limb
    Mobility encouragement
  3. Long-Term Management:
    Oral anticoagulants for 3–12 months or lifelong (depending on cause)
    Chronic DVT management
    Continue anticoagulation
    Evaluate venous stenting if recurrent
    Monitor for post-thrombotic syndrome
  4. Special Situations:
    Cancer-associated DVT – LMWH preferred
    Surgery-provoked DVT – minimum 3 months anticoagulation
    Pregnancy-related DVT – Heparin/LMWH only (DOACs avoided)

DVT Coding — Common Mistakes & Pro Tips for Accuracy
Pro Coding Tips:

  • Identify type: acute, chronic, or unspecified — never assume.
  • Capture exact location: femoral, popliteal, tibial, iliac, peroneal, etc.
  • Check laterality: right, left, or bilateral must be coded correctly.
  • Link associated conditions: PE, varicose veins, cancer-related DVT.
  • Verify provoked vs unprovoked: surgery, immobility, trauma.
  • Use I82.5- for chronic/residual DVT (not acute series.
  • Always review Doppler/US findings for accurate vessel identification.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Using I82.409 (acute, unspecified) without checking the imaging report.
  • Coding “DVT” generically as lower extremity without specifying exact vein.
  • Reporting acute DVT for old, stable thrombus → should be chronic (I82.5-).
  • Missing upper extremity DVT (I82.6- series) when catheter-related.
  • Not coding complications (e.g., post-thrombotic syndrome).
  • Failing to query when documentation only says “clot” without location/type.

Example:
Provider notes: “Old thrombus in right popliteal vein seen on Doppler.”
Correct Code → I82.531
Small details like vein name, laterality, and acuity make a big difference”

Stay informed with Hemostasis Today.

Blood Clot cancer Coding Insights Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis Today Medicine PE Poliki Venkatesh Pregnancy varicose veins
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