Please note this question was answered in 2021. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.
Pericardial Effusion drainage
Date: Apr 2, 2021
Question:
My physician reopened the chest with a 5 cm incision and gently explored the area around the heart with a "sucker tip" to drain the post op effusion. There is no mention of a pericardial incision that I could use 33025, but there is also no indwelling catheter placed either. Since this is an open procedure, how would you suggest I code this?
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