Patient was seated in an upright position, and topical anesthesia was achieved within the nasal passages using topical 4% lidocaine. Pieces of cotton soaked in 4% lidocaine were placed in both nasal passages, adjacent to the septal swell bodies, for several minutes.
After several minutes, these small pieces of cotton were removed and the septal swell body on each side was injected with 0.5 cc of 1% Xylocaine with 1: 100,000 epinephrine in a submucoperiochondrial plane.
Upon injection of the left septal swell body, the skin of the patient’s brow and forehead on the left side visibly blanched and he reported blurring of his vision in the left eye. Within minutes, the skin tone returned to normal; within 20 minutes the patient’s vision returned to normal. The small pieces of cotton soaked in topical lidocaine were replaced once again and were allowed to remain in place for several minutes.
The Vivaer equipment was then prepared using clean technique.
The pieces of cotton were removed.
Using the Vivaer device, radiofrequency energy was applied to 6 non-overlapping sites on the left septal swell body. Each 18 second application raised the tissue temperature to 60° C, followed by a 12 second cooling. Immediate reduction in the swell body was noted, with no significant mucosal disruption.
Five radiofrequency applications were performed on the right side as well.
The patient noted immediate improvement in nasal airflow. The procedure was tolerated without any further complaints or complications.
Post-op instructions were reviewed and the patient will return in one week for re-evaluation.
Any CPT code for this procedure?