Cardiology Coding Alert

Question: How should I code this suprarenal aortography procedure: After puncturing the common femoral artery, the physician advanced a Benson wire using fluoroscopy into the suprarenal aorta. He then advanced a pigtail catheter over the wire, removed the wire and performed a suprarenal aortogram. He also performed a lateral aortogram. Next, he pulled the catheter down to the lower abdominal aorta and performed a pelvic arteriogram. He also performed a projection of the pelvis.

Maryland Subscriber

Answer: You would report 36200 (Introduction of catheter, aorta) for the aortography. The documentation you provided does not indicate that the physician supervised and interpreted the aortogram, so you would not report codes for this service. If the documentation for radiological S&I were present and included the findings of the aortogram, then you would also report 75625-26 (Aortography, abdominal, by serialography, radiological supervision and interpretation; professional component).