Please note this question was answered in 2014. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.
Thigh AV Fistula
Date: Jun 20, 2014
Question:
What code should we use when a doctor creates a thigh AV fistula using the saphenous vein (femoral-saphenous fistula)? When they state they "harvested the entire saphenous vein through the knee... tunneled and anastomosed to femoral artery", is this reported with code 36821 (possibly with -22 modifier), or is it reported with code 36825 (possibly with -52 modifier)? Or would it be unlisted?
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!