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36593 or 36596?

Date: Feb 1, 2018

Question:

For the following case, should code 36596 or 36593 be reported? The physician is defining as catheter declot, but the "explosive irrigation" is throwing us. "Pre-Op Diagnosis: Catheter dysfunction. Procedure: The risks and benefits of catheter thrombolysis were discussed with the patient in detail. The patient understood, and informed consent was obtained. The ports were prepped and draped in usual sterile fashion. The ports were aspirated and then explosively irrigated using normal saline. 2 milligrams of tPA was then slowly infused into both ports."

Question ID : 10411
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