Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Code Transhepatic Broviac Like TIPS

Question: How should I code a transhepatic broviac catheter placement? The anesthesiologist placed a central venous line through the liver into the inferior vena cava.

Michigan Subscriber Answer: A transhepatic broviac catheter placement is similar to a TIPS procedure, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure. A vascular radiologist normally performs these procedures in a radiology setting while your physician administers anesthesia for it. The best anesthesia code to report is 01931 (Anesthesia for therapeutic interventional radiologic procedures involving the venous/lymphatic system [not to include access to the central circulation]; intrahepatic or portal circulation [e.g., transcutaneous porto-caval shunt {TIPS}]).
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