Please note this question was answered in 2022. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.
Facial artery ligation
Date: Jul 29, 2022
Question:
"The wound in question on the left jaw was sharply incised with a 15 blade, and necrotic tissue removed. A cavity was found where there was evidence of a prior glass foreign body, but it was not present at the current time. A vigorously bleeding branch of the facial artery was encountered, which had been lacerated. It was suture ligated with a 3-0 vicryl suture. Wound was irrigated and closed with multiple deep interrupted 4-0 Monocryl sutures."
There is some internal debate if 37600 can be reported since the facial artery is a branch of the external carotid, or if unlisted code 37799 is more appropriate.
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