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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Do Not Report Burr Holes For Ventriculoperitoneal Pump

Published on Wed Oct 03, 2012

Question: One of our surgeons is looking at placing a "VENTRICULO-PERITONEAL" baclofen pump. We are looking at using 62223 (Creation of shunt; ventriculo-peritoneal, -pleural, other terminus) and 62362 (Implantation or replacement of device for intrathecal or epidural drug infusion; programmable pump, including preparation of pump, with or without programming). The idea of the pump is that the medication gets directly dispersed in the brain not the spine. Please opine of our choice of codes.Wisconsin SubscriberAnswer: It is difficult to understand a scenario in which a pump is placed for intrathecal cranial infusion but a catheter system is placed between the ventricle and peritoneum. Infusion pumps and catheters are by nature unidirectional to a site(s). Code 62362 is applicable for spinal infusion pumps, but not pumps for cranial infusion. If the procedure performed was a ventricular catheter placement for intrathecal cranial infusion from an implantable pump, you would report 61215 (Insertion [...]
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