Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: The anesthesiologist was present when a patient who had been declared brain-dead was taken to surgery for harvesting of several organs and tissues. What diagnosis and anesthesia codes apply to the procedure?

Connecticut Subscriber

Answer: You might want to report your diagnoses related to the organs or tissues that were harvested. For example, options might include Z52.4 (Kidney donors), Z52.5 (Cornea donors), or V52.6 (Liver donors). If you don’t have documentation of the specific organs or tissues harvested, report V52.9 (Donors of unspecified organ or tissue). The diagnosis should be supported by the patient’s medical record.

Submit 01990 (Physiological support for harvesting of organ(s) from brain-dead patient) for your anesthesiologist’s work. Attach modifier P6 to further identify the patient as “A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes.”