Please note this question was answered in 2014. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.
Neuro Intervention Catheter Placements
Question:
I have a question regarding catheter placements during neuro interventions. Often times, a diagnostic study is performed with catheter placed in a lower vessel (e.g., the internal carotid) along with the corresponding imaging. This would be reported with code 36224. There are findings related to intracranial (e.g., middle cerebral artery) blockages, which can be treated with thrombectomy, embolization, etc. I know the catheter must be placed within these intracranial vessels in order to perform the intervention; however, since there is not a diagnostic study to go along with the catheter placement, you cannot report code 36228. What, if anything, can be reported for the catheter placement within an intracranial branch artery during a neuro intervention when a diagnostic study was not performed in that branch?
Need to ask Dr.Z?
Don't see the answer you're looking for in the knowledge base? No problem. You can ask Dr. Z directly!Ask Dr. Z a question now!