Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: How should I code anesthesia during pectoralis repair? Maine Subscriber Answer: If the physician creates a pectoralis flap for breast reconstruction, use 00402 (Anesthesia for procedures on the integumentary system on the extremities, anterior trunk and perineum; reconstructive procedures on breast [e.g., reduction or augmentation mammoplasty, muscle flaps]). If it is reconstruction of another anatomic site, you would use the code for that region. If you are coding the pectoralis repair following injury, 00400 (Anesthesia for procedures on the integumentary system on the extremities, anterior trunk and perineum; not otherwise specified) is appropriate. Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were provided by Cindy Clark, anesthesia coding supervisor with Anesthesiology Consultants in Savannah, Ga.