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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Follow-Up Vent Management Is Common

Published on Fri Aug 08, 2003

Question: Do anesthesiologists follow vent management for patients for more than one day? Our physicians are questioning the use of 94656 (Ventilation assist and management, initiation of pressure or volume preset ventilators for assisted or controlled breathing; first day) and 94657 (... subsequent days) for patients after open heart surgery.

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Many anesthesiologists follow ventilator patients overnight after open heart surgery. They occasionally follow the patient the next day, but that is the maximum amount of time. Your choices of 94656 and 94657 are correct. You'll usually report them for patients who have emphysema or asthma or who had a complicated surgery or recovery.

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