General Surgery Coding Alert
Harvesting Saphenous Vein
Pennsylvania Subscriber
Answer: The correct code for the procedure (35556, Bypass graft, with vein; femoral-popliteal) includes the harvesting of vein. The harvesting of vein from the leg is always included in any lower-extremity bypass graft. If vein is harvested from the arm, it may be reported separately using 35500 (Harvest of upper extremity vein, one segment, for lower extremity or coronary artery bypass procedure [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]).
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