Anesthesia Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Report 00470 for Sternal Wire Removal
Published on Thu Jan 14, 2016
Question: We provided anesthesia during the exploration of a sterna incision with removal of the lower sternal Talon and sternal wire. The postoperative diagnosis was “chronic draining sinus from prior internal plating of the sternum.” Is 00550 the best anesthesia code for the procedure?
Mississippi Subscriber
Answer: A better choice than 00550 (Anesthesia for sternal debridement) might be 00470 (Anesthesia for partial rib resection; not otherwise specified).
The procedure you describe was for sternal wire removal rather than debridement, which leads you away from 00550. The ASA Relative Value Guide lists 00470 as appropriate during sternal wire removal. Code 00470 carries a base value of 6.
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