Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: Which diagnosis code is appropriate for malfunctioning of a Port-a-Cath? Is it a V code? New York Subscriber Answer: The proper code depends on the specific complication or malfunction type, so you would need more information to choose the best code. Typically, youll choose a complication code from the following options: " 996.1 -- Mechanical complication of other vascular device, implant, and graft " 996.62 -- Infection and inflammatory reaction due to internal prosthetic device, implant, and graft; due to other vascular device, implant, and graft (requires an additional code to specify the infection, such as sepsis) " 996.74 -- Other complications of internal (biological) (synthetic) prosthetic device, implant, and graft; due to other vascular device, implant, and graft " 999.31 -- Infection due to central venous catheter (requires an additional code to specify the infection, such as sepsis). Once youve chosen the appropriate primary code,you should report E878.8 (Other specified surgical [...]