Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q25

Congenital malformations of great arteries

ICD-10-CM Code:
Q25
ICD-10 Code for:
Congenital malformations of great arteries
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
    (Q00-Q99)
    • Congenital malformations of the circulatory system
      (Q20-Q28)
      • Congenital malformations of great arteries
        (Q25)

Q25 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of congenital malformations of great arteries. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Congenital malformations of great arteries

Non-specific codes like Q25 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for congenital malformations of great arteries:

  • Use Q25.0 for Patent ductus arteriosus - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.1 for Coarctation of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Q25.2 for Atresia of aorta - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.21 for Interruption of aortic arch - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.29 for Other atresia of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.3 for Supravalvular aortic stenosis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Q25.4 for Other congenital malformations of aorta - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.40 for Congenital malformation of aorta unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.41 for Absence and aplasia of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.42 for Hypoplasia of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.43 for Congenital aneurysm of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.44 for Congenital dilation of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.45 for Double aortic arch - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.46 for Tortuous aortic arch - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.47 for Right aortic arch - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.48 for Anomalous origin of subclavian artery - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.49 for Other congenital malformations of aorta - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.5 for Atresia of pulmonary artery - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.6 for Stenosis of pulmonary artery - BILLABLE CODE

  • Q25.7 for Other congenital malformations of pulmonary artery - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.71 for Coarctation of pulmonary artery - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.72 for Congenital pulmonary arteriovenous malformation - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.79 for Other congenital malformations of pulmonary artery - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.8 for Other congenital malformations of other great arteries - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Q25.9 for Congenital malformation of great arteries, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

Patient Education


Congenital Heart Defects

What are congenital heart defects?

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are problems with the structure of the heart. "Congenital" means that that the problems are present at birth. These defects happen when a baby's heart doesn't develop normally during pregnancy. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect.

Congenital heart defects can change the way the heart pumps blood. They may make blood flow too slowly, go the wrong way, or block it completely.

There are many types of congenital heart defects. They can happen in one or more parts of the heart. The most common types are:

  • Septal defects ("hole in the heart") - openings in the wall between the left and right sides of the heart
  • Heart valve defects - problems with the valves that control the flow of blood through the heart
  • Defects in the large blood vessels that carry blood in and out of the heart

Congenital heart defects can range from very mild problems that never need treatment to life-threatening problems at birth. The most serious congenital heart defects are called critical congenital heart disease. Babies with these defects usually need surgery in the first year of life. But the symptoms of milder heart defects may not show up until childhood or adulthood.

What causes congenital heart defects?

Researchers often don't know what causes congenital heart defects. They do know that changes in a baby's genes sometimes cause a heart defect. The changed genes may come from the parents, or the changes may happen during pregnancy.

Who is more likely to have a baby with a congenital heart defect?

Several things may increase the chance that your baby has a congenital heart defect, such as:

  • Your health before and during pregnancy, including
    • Having diabetes before pregnancy or developing it in the first 3 months of pregnancy (diabetes that develops later in pregnancy isn't a major risk for heart defects). Carefully controlling your blood sugar before and during pregnancy can lower your baby's risk of congenital heart defects.
    • Having phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare inherited disorder that affects how the body uses a protein in foods. If you have PKU, eating a low-protein diet before getting pregnant can lower your baby's risk of having a congenital heart defect.
    • Having rubella (German measles) during pregnancy.
  • Your contact with certain substances during pregnancy, including
    • Smoking or secondhand smoke (breathing smoke from another smoker).
    • Certain medicines, such as angiotensin-converting (ACE) inhibitors for high blood pressure and retinoic acids for acne. If you're pregnant or plan to get pregnant, talk with your health care provider about all the medicines you take.
  • Your family history and genetics. In most cases, congenital heart defects don't run in families. But your chance of having a baby with a congenital heart defect does go up if you or the other parent has a congenital heart defect, or if you already have a child with a congenital heart defect.

What are the symptoms of congenital heart defects?

Congenital heart defects don't cause pain. The signs and symptoms are different, depending on the type and number of defects and how serious they are.

Common signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects include:

  • Cyanosis - a bluish color to the skin, lips, and fingernails. It happens when there isn't enough oxygen in the blood
  • Fatigue - your baby may be unusually sleepy and may become very tired during feedings
  • Poor blood flow
  • Fast or difficult breathing
  • Heart murmur - an unusual sound between heartbeats

What other problems do congenital heart defects cause?

Congenital heart defects don't always cause other problems. If they do, which problems you have would depend on the type and number of defects and how serious the defects are.

Children with congenital heart defects are more likely to:

  • Be smaller than other children
  • Have problems or delays in mental, and emotional growth, and behavior, such as:
    • Speech and language problems
    • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)

People with congenital heart defects may develop other health conditions, including:

  • Endocarditis - an infection of lining of the heart and valves
  • Arrhythmia - a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat
  • Heart failure - when your heart can't pump enough blood to the body
  • Pulmonary hypertension - high blood pressure in your lungs
  • Kidney and liver disease

How are congenital heart defects diagnosed?

  • Before a baby is born, your provider may use ultrasound pictures of the baby's heart to look for heart defects. This is called a fetal echocardiogram. It's done between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy.
  • During the first few days after birth, all newborns are checked for congenital heart defects. A pulse oximeter is clipped to your baby's hands or feet to measure blood oxygen. If it shows low levels of blood oxygen, more tests will be needed to find out if your baby has a heart defect.
  • To diagnose congenital heart defects in babies, children, and adults, a provider may use many tools, including:
    • A physical exam.
    • Certain heart tests to see how the heart is working.
    • Genetic testing to see if certain gene problems caused the defect.

What are the treatments for congenital heart defects?

Treatment depends on the type of congenital heart defect and how serious it is. Possible treatments include:

  • Cardiac catheterization to repair simple defects, such as a small hole in the inside wall of the heart. A catheterization uses a thin tube guided through a vein and into the heart.
  • Heart surgery may be needed to:
    • Repair defects in the heart and blood vessels.
    • Repair or replace a heart valve.
    • Place a device in the chest to help the heart pump blood.
    • Do a heart transplant.
  • Medicine is often used if your baby has a specific type of congenital heart defect called patent ductus arteriosus.

All children and adults who have congenital heart defects need regular follow-up care from a cardiologist (a doctor who specializes in heart diseases) throughout their life, even if their defect was repaired.

Some people may need several heart surgeries or catheterizations over the years. They may also need to take medicines to help their hearts work as well as possible.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.