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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Neurosurgery Coding:

Know How Surgeon Created Hole for Drain Placement Coding Success

Published on Tue May 19, 2026

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon “created Burr hole/placed EVD via Burr Hole to reduce icp.” Can you tell me how to decipher this note, and how to code what they are describing? Iowa Subscriber Answer: Your surgeon performed an external ventricular drain (EVD) insertion to reduce intracranial pressure (ICP). You should report this service with 61210 (Burr hole(s); [...]
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