Ask Dr. Z

"Patient came to department as a code stroke. The cervical carotid artery was occluded at its origin without any antegrade flow intracranially. The catheter was repositioned into the left cervical internal carotid artery under roadmap guidance. The balloon was placed at the proximal cervical ICA and was inflated to its nominal pressure. Repeat angio demonstrated good antegrade flow within the left cervical ICA. At this point the microcatheter was inserted into the aspiration catheter and advanced to the occluded left MCA branch. The aspiration catheter was placed on continuous suction, and clot was removed." Is it appropriate to charge for carotid angioplasty in the ICA during mechanical thrombectomy (codes 61645 and 37246)?