Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: What is the definition of regional anesthesia, medically speaking and from a coding standpoint? What surgeries (especially ENT) commonly see the use of regional anesthesia?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Regional anesthesia reduces all painful sensation in one area of the body (such as the shoulder) without inducing unconsciousness (as general anesthesia does). It is accomplished by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses along conducting neurons of the spinal cord.

Examples of regional anesthesia include peripheral nerve blocks (such as trigger point injections, 20550* [injection, tendon sheath, ligament, trigger points or ganglion cyst]) and spinals, epidurals caudals and intravenous regional blocks (e.g., Bier blocks) Sedative agents such as Valium are sometimes delivered prior to administration of a regional anesthetic.