AlaskanCoder
Guru
Help would be appreciated on coding this procedure. The surgeon replaced the aortic valve with a bioprosthesis. After weaning the patient from C-P bypass, he documents:
"The ascending aorta was fully mobilized and then a length of Dacron graft was wrapped tightly over its entire length, from the sino tubular junction to the origin of the innominate artery. The graft was tacked on to the percardial reflection distally and to the proximal arotic Suture line with interrupted stitched of 2-0 Ethibond"
This definately does not fit the description of 33860 or any other code we can find. So, we are thinking we either need to go the unlisted route or our thought was to add modifier -22 to 33405. This was additional work, above and beyond what is usually done in a valve replacement, so the surgeon should be compensated.
Thank you, in advance, for any information or recommendations.
Karen
"The ascending aorta was fully mobilized and then a length of Dacron graft was wrapped tightly over its entire length, from the sino tubular junction to the origin of the innominate artery. The graft was tacked on to the percardial reflection distally and to the proximal arotic Suture line with interrupted stitched of 2-0 Ethibond"
This definately does not fit the description of 33860 or any other code we can find. So, we are thinking we either need to go the unlisted route or our thought was to add modifier -22 to 33405. This was additional work, above and beyond what is usually done in a valve replacement, so the surgeon should be compensated.
Thank you, in advance, for any information or recommendations.
Karen