BwitchyCoder
Guest
- Messages
- 33
obese patient needs av fistula brought closer to skin surface for use in dialysis... any ideas?
Any input would be much appreciated
Any input would be much appreciated
-
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superficialization of av fistula CPT?-patient needs
- Thread starter BwitchyCoder
- Start date
thythaot
Guest
- Messages
- 20
- Location
- Portland, Oregon
New
Hi,
In your case, I am sorry that it is not enough information. But, with my thinking, When a person's kidneys fail, dialysis is often required if transplantation cannot be performed. Dialysis can be performed using the abdominal cavity (peritoneal dialysis) or by filtering the blood. In turn, blood for filtration can be obtained via a catheter or arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula). Catheters can be placed on short notice but have a short usable life-span and are difficult to care for. By contrast, a fistula requires surgery and cannot be used until they heal, but can last for years. In this case, your physician perform AV fistula, but we have many type of fistula that your own veins and arteries and stay as far out on the arm as possible.
In CPT, AV fistula code is 36831 - 36870. I don't know which detail that your physician perform to patient. You can choose in there.
I hope it can get to your idea.
Hi,
In your case, I am sorry that it is not enough information. But, with my thinking, When a person's kidneys fail, dialysis is often required if transplantation cannot be performed. Dialysis can be performed using the abdominal cavity (peritoneal dialysis) or by filtering the blood. In turn, blood for filtration can be obtained via a catheter or arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula). Catheters can be placed on short notice but have a short usable life-span and are difficult to care for. By contrast, a fistula requires surgery and cannot be used until they heal, but can last for years. In this case, your physician perform AV fistula, but we have many type of fistula that your own veins and arteries and stay as far out on the arm as possible.
In CPT, AV fistula code is 36831 - 36870. I don't know which detail that your physician perform to patient. You can choose in there.
I hope it can get to your idea.
lisammy
Guru
- Messages
- 161
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
Are you talking about a transpostition? That is when they allow a fistula to mature and then bring the pt back into the operation room and tunnel it closer to the top. Look at codes 36818-36819. Hope this helps.
jlgwalt64
Contributor
- Messages
- 14
- Location
- Whitewater, WI
36818-36819 are not correct for the transposition superficialization, these codes are used for the initial AV fistula creation. The patient is then brought back a couple months later to have this vein 'superficialized'. I do not know if there is a code for this - looking for it myself.
kae108
New
- Messages
- 3
- Location
- Saint Augustine, FL
Response 2 years late
I read this and had to reply - I am glad you replied. It still helps us new to this who are still researching.
I read this and had to reply - I am glad you replied. It still helps us new to this who are still researching.
StacyTerramiggi
Networker
- Messages
- 43
- Location
- Farmington, MO
Thank you all for the input and I started vascular last year, I have been a coder for some time but vascular is a bit tricky and your input is all so appreciated
djurado@uic.edu
New
- Messages
- 4
This is correct. I needed a refresh. During the Vascular conference in 2025 they mentioned this is the correct code for superficialization. Thank you!