Ask Dr. Z

A case was planned for an EVAR to treat an asymptomatic with AAA. During the procedure the AAA ruptured. Does the reason for the AAA rupture affect how it's coded 34706 instead of 34705? It is not entirely clear as to why the AAA ruptured. Does that matter?

"The physician deployed the main body of the graft without incident. The physician had difficulty cannulating the contralateral gate because of the patient anatomy. Multiple catheters, guidewires,  and two access with different sheaths were performed trying to complete the procedure. Another physician was called in, because a snare wire kept going outside the aneurysm, and a picture was shot through the sheath that showed the aneurysm had ruptured. The patient became hypotensive and did lose pulse and CPT was initiation return of spontaneous circulation was obtained, the ipsilateral and contralateral limbs were deployed, no evidence of endoleak. After closure the patient was transferred to ICU as she had coded 2 times during femoral artery repair."