Ask Dr. Z

My vascular surgeon performed a diagastric muscle resection, C1 transverse process resection, and stylohyoid process excision in order to accomplish a decompression of the right internal jugular vein. I am torn as to where to begin with a CPT code since all of these procedures were performed to accomplish one problem. I thought about using 35701-22, but this does not seem to capture all of the work involved. I don't want to code multiple CPTs, as that may seem like up-coding. What are your thoughts on how to approach this coding scenario?