Pericarditis refers to swelling and inflammation of the pericardium. This article lists the ICD-10 codes for accurately documenting this condition.

1. Diagnose, Document
and Code Pericarditis
- Use the Right ICD-10
Codes
Pericarditis refers to swelling
and inflammation of the
pericardium. This article lists the
ICD-10 codes for accurately
documenting this condition.
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Pericardial disease or pericarditis refers to swelling and inflammation of the pericardium -
the thin, two layered, fluid-filled sac-like membrane that covers the outer surface of the
heart. The role of the pericardium is to provide lubrication for the heart and shield the
heart from severe infection and malignancy. It also keeps the heart from over-expanding
when blood volume increases, which in turn helps in proper functioning of the heart.
Generally, this heart condition begins suddenly, but doesn’t last long (acute). Most cases of
pericarditis inflammation are mild and improve on their own. The condition becomes
chronic when the symptoms develop gradually and can often lead to severe illness and
even cardiac damage. Treatment for more severe cases may include medications and
sometimes surgery (in case of complications). Early diagnosis and treatment could help
reduce the risk of long-term complications associated with pericarditis. For proper clinical
documentation of this cardiac disorder, physicians can rely on medical billing
outsourcing services.
The exact cause of pericarditis is often hard to determine. In most cases, physicians either
are unable to determine a specific cause (idiopathic) or suspect a viral infection. The
condition can also develop shortly after a major heart attack due to the mild irritation of
the underlying damaged heart muscle. Some of the other less common causes include -
systemic inflammatory disorders, complication of a bacterial infection, heart or chest
injury, autoimmune disorders, certain medications and other health disorders.
Types of Pericardial Disease and Immediate Symptoms
Pericardial disease include three main types -
 Acute pericarditis – symptoms begin suddenly, but don’t last long (symptoms last
less than three weeks).
 Chronic pericarditis – symptoms develop gradually and persist, or may persist after
an acute attack (symptoms last longer than three months).
 Recurring pericarditis – repeated attacks of acute pericarditis (occurs about four to
six weeks).
The signs and symptoms of pericarditis may depend upon the specific type and may vary
from one person to another. One of the most common symptoms of this condition is sharp,
piercing chest pain in the centre or left side of your chest. Depending on the type and cause
of pericarditis, symptoms may also include -
 Shortness of breath when reclining
 Nausea
 Low-grade fever
 Heart palpitations
 Dry cough

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 An overall sense of weakness, fatigue or feeling sick
 Abdominal or leg swelling
How Is Pericarditis Diagnosed and Treated?
In most cases, physicians start their diagnosis by reviewing your previous medical history
and asking specific questions about the occurrence of any symptoms like chest pain and
other weakness or fatigue. They will perform a detailed physical examination and check
your heart rate and sounds - to check for the specific characteristic sound of pericarditis,
called “pericardial rub” which occurs when the pericardial layers rub against each other.
They will conduct several tests and procedures to determine whether the patient had
suffered a heart attack (previously) and whether any fluid accumulation is in the
pericardial sac or whether there are signs of inflammation. Physicians may do blood tests
to determine if a bacterial or other type of infection is present. Apart from this, physicians
may also recommend several diagnostic imaging tests like - Electrocardiogram (ECG),
Echocardiogram, Computerized tomography (CT), Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) and Chest X-ray.
Treatment for this heart condition would depend on the specific cause as well as the
severity of the symptoms. As mentioned above, mild cases of pericarditis may get better on
their own without treatment. Treatment modalities include medications like pain relievers
(such as aspirin or ibuprofen) and Colchicines (Colcrys, Mitigare) which help reduce the
inflammation and swelling associated with the condition. Antibiotics and drainage (if
necessary) will be prescribed if the condition is the result of severe bacterial infection.
However, patients in some cases may need to be hospitalized if the physician suspects
cardiac tamponade, (a severe complication of pericarditis due to fluid buildup around the
heart). If cardiac tamponade is suspected, physicians may recommend procedures such as -
pericardiocentesis and pericardiectomy, which help relieve or reduce the fluid buildup.
Medical Codes to Use
Cardiology medical coding involves the use of specific ICD-10 codes to document various
heart conditions, including pericardial disease. ICD-10-CM codes used to indicate a
diagnosis of pericarditis for reimbursement purposes include -
I30 - Acute pericarditis
 I30.0 - Acute nonspecific idiopathic pericarditis
 I30.1 - Infective pericarditis
 I30.8 - Other forms of acute pericarditis
 I30.9 - Acute pericarditis, unspecified

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I31 - Other diseases of pericardium
 I31.0 - Chronic adhesive pericarditis
 I31.1 - Chronic constrictive pericarditis
 I31.2 - Hemopericardium, not elsewhere classified
 I31.3 - Pericardial effusion (noninflammatory)
 I31.4 - Cardiac tamponade
 I31.8 - Other specified diseases of pericardium
 I31.9 - Disease of pericardium, unspecified
I32 - Pericarditis in diseases classified elsewhere
Following a healthy lifestyle and utilizing home remedies can help prevent pericarditis in
the long run. Taking adequate rest and over-the-counter pain medications (as per
physician’s direction) can help reduce the symptoms and severity of this heart condition. In
addition, patients are required to avoid rigorous physical activity as these activities can
trigger the symptoms.
Medical coding for different cardiac conditions can be complex. For accurate and timely
medical billing and claims submission, healthcare practices can outsource their medical
coding tasks to a reliable and established medical billing and coding company that
provides the services of AAPC-certified coding specialists. Outsourcing also ensures more
time on the physician’s hands, which can be spent on providing more care and attention for
patients.