I wanted to get input from other vascular coders as to how you would code an endo-AAA repair in which the physician used 2 typical ‘extension’ pieces to overlap and create an aortic only stent…”initial aortic device ends just proximal to the aortic bifurcation” and “the proximal portion of the second graft would end just at the renal arteries with the appropriate overlap with the initial device.”
• Would you code 34800 even though a unibody prosthesis was not used directly but the 2 pieces overlapped to essentially create one?
• Would you code 34825 (coded once, following ‘per vessel’ rule) since extension piece(s) was used even though this was not an extension of a previously placed endograft?
• Would you use an unlisted code?
I appreciate any input.
• Would you code 34800 even though a unibody prosthesis was not used directly but the 2 pieces overlapped to essentially create one?
• Would you code 34825 (coded once, following ‘per vessel’ rule) since extension piece(s) was used even though this was not an extension of a previously placed endograft?
• Would you use an unlisted code?
I appreciate any input.