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Subxiphoid Pericardial Window with Repair of Cardiac Perforation

Date: Jan 3, 2022

Question:

In the following scenario can both creation of pericardial window with repair of cardiac perforation be coded together, or is cardiac perforation repair included in creation of pericardial window? If not what code is used for cardiac repair?

"DX Pericardial tamponade following complex Impella supported PCI with Cardiogenic/Hemorrhagic shock.

Incision made over Xiphoid. Xiphoid dissected/excised. Internal Mammary retractor used to elevate the inferior aspect of sternum blunt/sharp dissection performed. Pt's body habitus such that exposure was excellent and I could see a fair distance up onto the anterior pericardial surface. Pericardium incised, moderate amount of free blood in pericardium. Evaluation of what I could see of the heart from this exposure revealed that there appeared to be 2 bleeding sites,probably from previous percutaneous pericardial drain placement (by another specialty group). Pledgeted 2-0 prolenes used to perform suture repair of these 2 areas at the acute margin Topical Evarrest hemostatic agent patches were placed over the repair sites."

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