Might be a dumb question but....can someone define the vascular families. I know what they are but where are they? are there only the 3 coming up and off the aorta? (subclavian,inominate ect.) are those the only ones?
36245 x 3
75726 x 3.
A vascular family starts with a vessel that comes off the aorta (or vessel punctured) and includes all branches of that vessel.
So, with normal vasculature, the left subclavian starts one vascular family, the left common carotid starts one, the innominate starts one. Each bronchial artery that arises from the aorta is a separate vascular family. Each visceral artery that arises from the aorta is a separate vascular family. Each spinal artery that arises fom the aorta is a separate vascular family (which is why coding spinal angiograms can lead to many, many codes!)
Since, in normal vasculature the SMA, the IMA and the Celiac all arise directly from the aorta, each is a separate vascular family - 36245 would be coded for each (assuming you didn't then cath futher), and 75726 would be coded for each.
Appendix L is a good start, indicating the various vascular families - each artery listed as a first order vessel is the start of a new vascular family once you have gotten to the aorta- so innominate, L common carotid, l subclavian, intercostals, bronchials,etc.