Reader Questions:
Denver Shunt = Peritoneal-Venous Shunt
Published on Tue May 17, 2005
Question: What is a Denver shunt, and how should I code the procedure?
Louisiana Subscriber
Answer: A Denver shunt is a modification of the LeVeen peritoneovenous shunt. Physicians use it to treat ascites, a condition of excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
The physician places a subcutaneous plastic tube to continuously shunt ascites fluid from the peritoneal cavity to the jugular or subclavian vein. The surgeon reports 49425 (Insertion of peritoneal-venous shunt), and the anesthesiologist reports 00790 (Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen including laparoscopy; not otherwise specified).