I63.239Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of unspecified carotid artery

I63.239 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of unspecified carotid artery. It belongs to category I63 (cerebral infarction), block I60-I69 (cerebrovascular diseases) and chapter 9 (diseases of the circulatory system). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within I63.23, choose I63.239 (unspecified carotid artery) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right carotid arteries (I63.231), left carotid arteries (I63.232) and bilateral carotid arteries (I63.233).

Use an additional code, if applicable, to identify status post administration of tPA (rtPA) in a different facility within the last 24 hours prior to admission to current facility (Z92.82). Use an additional code, if known, to indicate National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (R29.7-).

As a secondary diagnosis it is an MCC (major complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the highest-paying "with MCC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 023 (Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex CNS Principal Diagnosis with MCC or Antineoplastic Implant or Epilepsy with Neurostimulator, relative weight 5.7444), DRG 024 (Craniotomy with Major Device Implant or Acute Complex CNS Principal Diagnosis without MCC, relative weight 3.9708), DRG 061 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent with MCC, relative weight 2.7211), DRG 062 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent with CC, relative weight 1.7781), DRG 063 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent without CC/MCC, relative weight 1.455), DRG 064 (Intracranial Hemorrhage or Cerebral Infarction with MCC, relative weight 1.9712) and 4 more, in MDC 01 (Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System) and MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015, and changed in FY2019 (title revised).

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 433.11 (occlusion and stenosis of carotid artery with cerebral infarction).