Items Tagged: artery



ZHealth Coding Newsletter - November 2017

November 2017 Q & A

Question: Infrarenal AAA

My provider did infrarenal AAA, using US guidance, he accessed both femoral arteries. He deployed a Gore endovascular stent with careful attention not to encroach the left renal artery. Then, the Gore limb was placed into the right common iliac artery. An extender device was placed from the main body limb, just above the left hypogastric. My question: is it appropriate to code 34825 since he used another limb extension?

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - July 2017

July 2017 Q & A

Question: Superior Mesenteric Artery to Rt Hepatic Artery

A 5 Fr sheath was placed and attached to a heparinized saline infusion. Exchange was made for a SOS catheter and selective DSA performed in the superior mesenteric artery. Superselective catheterization of the replaced right hepatic artery was then performed using a 3 Fr Progreat Microcatheter and wire. Can a catheter reach the right hepatic artery from the SMA or does the catheter need to go through the celiac artery?

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - April 2017

April 2017 Q & A

Question: Left Dorsalis Pedis an Additional Artery on Left Anterior Tibial?

An angioplasty was performed on the left dorsalis pedis artery...an angioplasty with atherectomy was performed on the left anterior distal tibial artery. Is the left dorsalis pedis angioplasty an add-on to code 37229, or is it part of code 37229? Is just code 37229 reported, or 37232 and 37229?

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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - March 2017

March 2017 Q & A

Question: Treating Tibioperoneal Trunk with PTA and SFA

I have heard that it may be possible to code for an intervention in the tibioperoneal trunk in the following two scenarios: 1. It is the only vessel treated; 2. It is separately treated in addition to an intervention in the anterior tibial artery. My patient has focal stenoses of the mid and distal SFA treated with angioplasty. A patent popliteal artery. Focal high grade stenoses in the superior aspect of the tibioperoneal trunk and within the distal tibioperoneal trunk at the bifurcation of the peroneal and tibial artery. These stenoses were treated with angioplasty as well.

Can I report code 37228 for the tibioperoneal trunk in addition to the SFA angioplasty (37224)? I'm a bit confused because the CPT code book indicates the tibioperoneal trunk would be considered part of the tibial/peroneal territory, but not a separate 4th segment of vessel. Does this mean if it is the only segment of vessels in the tibial/peroneal territory it is billed? Even if another territory is billed? 


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ZHealth Coding Newsletter - October 2016

October 2016 Q & A

Question: Femoral Stent to Stop Bleeding

A patient had a TAVR procedure and had continued bleeding of the femoral artery, so a femoral artery stent was deployed. What code do I use for this service? I see that the CPT book states, "Codes 37220-37235 are to be used to describe lower extremity endovascular revascularization services performed for occlusive disease," so I know that these codes do not apply since the stent was deployed for hemostasis. Is this a billable service?

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