Ask Dr. Z

We have a patient that has been undergoing thrombolysis, on one of the follow up visits the physician places a stent to treat the thrombus and areas of extravasation. Can we bill anything for the stent placement? "THE RIGHT FEMORAL ACCESS SITE WAS PREPPED AND DRAPED IN THE USUAL STERILE FASHION. A GENTLE HAND INJECTION OF CONTRAST AGENT THROUGH THE EXISTING INFUSION CATHETER WAS PERFORMED WHICH DEMONSTRATED ACCUMULATION OF THROMBUS MATERIAL WITHIN THE DISTAL FEMORAL POPLITEAL SEGMENT. ADDITIONALLY, 2 AREAS OF EXTRAVASATION OR IDENTIFIED FROM THE DISTAL SFA AND POPLITEAL ARTERY. I ELECTED TO COVER THE THROMBUS AND TREAT THE AREAS OF EXTRAVASATION WITH A COVERED STENT GRAFT. A 6 MM X 15 MM GORE VIABAHN WAS DEPLOYED. A POST TREATMENT ANGIOGRAM DEMONSTRATED RESTORATION OF INLINE FLOW. MINIMAL DISTAL THROMBOEMBOLI WERE PRESENT WITH 2 VESSEL RUNOFF VIA THE PERONEAL AND ANTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERIES. I ELECTED TO TERMINATE AT THIS POINT. THE INFUSION CATHETER WAS REPOSITION WITHIN THE SFA. TPA INFUSION WAS RESUMED."