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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader questions:

Shunt Revision Likely Falls Under 62225

Published on Sat Jan 23, 2010

Question: The surgeon identified the patient's previous shunt and disconnected the valve from the ventricular catheter. He then connected the ventricular catheter to a new ventricular catheter through a straight connector. He tunneled this through the scalp in the usual fashion. What's our best coding option? Minnesota Subscriber Answer: From your description it sounds like the neurosurgeon replaced the patient's ventricular catheter, which you code with 62225 (Replacement or irrigation, ventricular catheter). When you're in this section of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt codes, don't miss CPT's notes regarding other types of shunt or catheter placement. For example, if Neurosurgery Coding Alert/ 2010, Vol. 11, No. 2 To subscribe, call (800) 508-2582 Page 15 your surgeon places an intracranial neuroendoscopic ventricular catheter, report +62160 (Neuroendoscopy, intracranial, for placement or replacement of ventricular catheter and attachment to shunt system or external drainage [List separately in addition to primary procedure]) with 62225.
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