Free Up This Blocked Artery Procedure
Question: The surgeon treated a patient with a near-complete blockage of the right carotid artery by performing an endarterectomy. They made an incision along the neck and opened the artery to remove the thrombus and plaques. How should this be coded? AAPC Forum Participant Answer: The correct CPT® code for this scenario is 35301 (Thromboendarterectomy, including patch graft, if performed; carotid, vertebral, subclavian, by neck incision). The diagnosis code for this would be I65.21 (Occlusion and stenosis of right carotid artery). The I65.- category describes “Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction.” Lindsey Bush, BA, MA, CPC, Production Editor, AAPC
