Radiology Coding Alert

Question: What's the significance of the word "retrograde" in 36120?

Illinois Subscriber

Answer: "Retrograde" essentially means the needle or catheter introduction was performed in the direction opposite the normal direction of flow.

Code 36120 (Introduction of needle or intracatheter; retrograde brachial artery) describes introduction of a needle or catheter in the direction that goes against the direction the blood naturally flows. The brachial artery is the major artery of the upper arm and the flow of blood moves away from the heart. Retrograde therefore means moving toward the heart in this case.

Tip: A code does not have to specify "retrograde" for the code to be appropriate for retrograde introduction. CPT® Assistant (June 2009) states that 36140 (Introduction of needle or intracatheter; extremity artery) "should be used to report retrograde introduction of a needle or intracatheter into an extremity artery for injection purposes."