Cardiology

Week of May 20, 2013

Question:

What is the appropriate choice for unilateral carotid angiogram for carotid endarterectomy when the carotid artery is directly punctured to image the cervical carotids? There really isn't a well-defined code to use for this since it's not a "selective" catheterization of the carotid artery, and we've been using 36221. Would you agree?

Answer:

If a diagnostic study is performed, then 36222 would be assigned since its descriptor includes the phrase "any approach."

36222 Selective catheter placement, common carotid or innominate artery, unilateral, any approach, with angiography of the ipsilateral extracranial carotid circulation and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation, includes angiography of the cervicocerebral arch, when performed.

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