Anesthesia Coding Alert
You Be The Coder:
Technique Determines Impar Block Code
Published on Thu May 13, 2004
Question: What is a ganglion or impar block, and how should I code for it?
Mississippi Subscriber
Answer: If the physician performs a neurolytic (destructive) block, report CPT 64640 (Destruction by neurolytic agent; other peripheral nerve or branch). Otherwise, report the unlisted-procedure code 64999 (Unlisted procedure, nervous system) at 12 units.
Pain physicians perform ganglion impar or ganglion of Walther blocks to treat sympathetically mediated pain of the perineum, rectum and genitalia. The pain is usually secondary to malignancy or a benign pain syndrome such as endometriosis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy or causalgia.
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Technique Determines Impar Block Code
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