September 2016 Q & A

Question: Brachial Cutdown Not Involving AAA Repair

June 2016 Q & A

Question: Upper Extremity Angiography with Thoracic Aortography

May 2016 Q & A

Question: Angioplasty of the iliac with the sheath?

September 2015 Q & A

Question: 36228 with Pipeline Embolization

Following diagnostic cerebral angiogram with bilateral internal carotid artery catheter and 3D angiogram requiring separate work station, angle projections for treatment of the cavernous segment of the right internal carotid artery aneurysm were obtained. Navien catheter was positioned within the intracranial segment of the right internal carotid artery, and Marksman catheter was navigated into the right middle cerebral artery. Then pipeline embolization was done on the right cavernous carotid segment. At the completion of the coiling procedure, cerebral angiogram was performed via the right internal carotid artery. Besides 36224-50, can I add 36228 in this case even though the embolization was at cavernous carotid? I also coded 61624, 75894, 75898, and 76377. Are these the right codes for this case?

June 2015 Q & A

Question: Balloon Dilatation and Stenting of Intrathoracic Innominate Artery

The doctor would like to charge 36217, 37218, 75710-26 for this procedure: 1. Right femoral artery cannulated in retrograde fashion. 2. Catheter into orgin of the innominate. 3. Then catheter passed selectively into the origin of the common carotid artery. 4. Then catheter selective out into the subclavian and selctive angiography was performed and confirmed subclavian widely patent. 5. Balloon dilatation performed and did not get good result. 6. Stent placed over ostial and proximal portion of innominate artery.