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Arteriograms Performed in the Surgical Suite

Date: Dec 16, 2013

Question:

We had a patient who had a diagnostic celiac and superior mesenteric arteriogram performed in the IR suite. This showed high grade narrowing of the origins of both vessels. The vascular surgeon, on a different day, decided to take the patient to surgery (on the outside chance that he would need to open the patient) to place stents in the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries. What is the proper way to code this procedure? Do operating room charges include arteriograms? Shouldn't the stent placement be charged separately from the operating room time charges?

Question ID : 5257
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