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Anesthesia Coding Alert

YOU BE THE CODER ~ Check Options for Aortic Valve Replacement

Published on Tue Jan 16, 2007

Question: What anesthesia code is best for an aortic valve replacement? Another coder suggested 00530, but that doesn't seem correct.

Texas Subscriber

Answer: You're correct in thinking that 00530 (Anesthesia for permanent transvenous pacemaker insertion) is not your best choice.

More appropriate options include 00561 (Anesthesia for procedures on heart, pericardial sac, and great vessels of chest; with pump oxygenator, younger than one year of age), 00562 (... with pump oxygenator) or 00563 (... with pump oxygenator with hypothermic circulatory arrest).

Double-check your anesthesiologist's documentation to verify the patient's age and whether he used a pump oxygenator or induced hypothermic circulatory arrest during the case. Knowing those details will help you determine the correct code.
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