Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: One of our surgeons removed a stent from the coronary artery using a catheter. Which code should I report?

Connecticut Subscriber

Answer: When the physician performs percutaneous transcatheter retrieval of an intravascular foreign body, such as a coronary artery stent, you should report 37197 (Transcatheter retrieval, percutaneous, of intravascular foreign body [eg, fractured venous or arterial catheter], includes radiological supervision and interpretation, and imaging guidance [ultrasound or fluoroscopy], when performed). Code 37197 includes radiological supervision and interpretation (S&I). You can report codes for catheter placement separately based on the catheter position.

Additional tip: For percutaneous retrieval of a vena cava filter, you would not use 37197. Instead, report 37193 (Retrieval [removal] of intravascular vena cava filter, endovascular approach including vascular access, vessel selection, and radiological supervision and interpretation, intraprocedural roadmapping, and imaging guidance [ultrasound and fluoroscopy], when performed), says CPT^®.