ICD-10 Code I26.0 – Pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I26.0 – Pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale
What it is
I26.0 identifies a pulmonary embolism that has caused acute cor pulmonale, meaning sudden strain or failure of the right side of the heart from blocked blood flow in the lungs.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heart rate, and evidence of right heart strain. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use I26.0 when the provider documents pulmonary embolism with acute cor pulmonale or acute right heart strain due to the embolus. The record should clearly link the embolism to the cor pulmonale. If the right heart involvement is not documented, check documentation before assigning this code.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale, or for chronic cor pulmonale. If the chart only says suspected PE or right heart strain without confirmation, check documentation.
Coding tip
Code I26.0 only when both the embolism and acute cor pulmonale are documented together.