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Thoracic esophagoscopy during cardiac valve repair
Date: Jan 15, 2021
Question:
During a minimally invasive mitral valve ring repair, the TEE probe could not be placed. Two providers tried and failed, so the cardiac surgeon called in his thoracic surgery partner to do a flexible esophagoscopy to evaluate why. Thoracic surgeon did not find a reason to prevent the TEE probe being placed. They tried again and TEE probe could not be placed, and surgery done with TTE. Is the thoracic surgeon's esophagoscopy separately billable? I think it is; please advise.
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