Central nervous system infarction is defined as brain, spinal cord or retinal cell death attributable to ischemia, based on neuropathological, neuroimaging and/or clinical evidence of permanent injury*
Did you know? A time definition for symptoms (< 24 hours) should not be the only diagnostic criteria for TIA. Modern imaging findings obtained by diffusion weighted MRI highlight tissue changes several minutes after transient or permanent ischemic events. Stroke can be diagnosed with MRI findings regardless of symptoms and in less than 24 hours.
Documentation Tips
“Aborted Stroke” – stroke that was prevented by t-PA, codes to acute stroke
“Late Effect of Stroke” – remember to use this phrase if your patient has a past stroke and now presents with aphasia, seizure, dementia, contracture of a joint, etc.
Download the complete tip, Stroke.