When coding 'bilateral occlusion of the carotid artery', the coder would first reference which term in the Alphabetic Index?

When coding 'bilateral occlusion of the carotid artery', the coder would first reference which term in the Alphabetic Index?

• A. Occlusion
• B. Carotid
• C. Bilateral
• D. Artery

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the Alphabetic Index is navigated starting with the disease process itself. For "bilateral occlusion of the carotid artery," the first term you reference is Occlusion because it names the condition being coded. After selecting Occlusion, you would narrow by the site (carotid artery) and then by laterality (bilateral) to reach the exact code. The site terms and laterality are used only after you’ve identified the primary condition term in the index.

The main idea is that the Alphabetic Index is navigated starting with the disease process itself. For "bilateral occlusion of the carotid artery," the first term you reference is Occlusion because it names the condition being coded. After selecting Occlusion, you would narrow by the site (carotid artery) and then by laterality (bilateral) to reach the exact code. The site terms and laterality are used only after you’ve identified the primary condition term in the index.