Reader Questions:
Exploration/Revision Describes Graft Removal
Published on Mon Apr 03, 2006
Question: Our surgeon excised an infected Gortex dialysis graft from the left arm. Which code should I report for this?
Michigan Subscriber
Answer: You should look to the exploration/revision subsection of CPT under -excision.- The appropriate code is 35903 (Excision of infected graft; extremity).
Because the surgeon is removing the graft due to infection, you should append a diagnosis of 996.62 (Infection and inflammatory reaction due to other vascular device, implant and graft) to 35903. Notes following 996.62 clarify that this diagnosis applies to -arterial graft,- as well as -vascular catheter (arterial) (dialysis) (venous).-
