Wiki Aortosubclavian/Aortocarotid Bypass via median sternotomy

[donnasmurray@gmail.com]

My cardiothoracic surgeon was asked to assist a vascular surgeon with an aortosubclavian and aortocarotid bypass graft (CPT 35626). My cardiothoracic surgeon performed the median sternotomy to expose the ascending aorta, placed a side biting clamp on the ascending aorta and closed the chest with Pioneer cables at completion of the procedure.
The vascular surgeon did the bypasses of the ascending aorta to the right subclavian artery and bypass from the ascending aorta to the rith common carotid artery.

My question is how do I code what my cardiovascular surgeon did? I'm thinking that I would use code 35626 and append a 62 modifier.

Any other thoughts or suggestions would be most appreciated!!!

 

[conleyclan]

I would bill with the 62 modifier. Our surgeons work quite often with other surgeons. The way this was explained to me is the vascular surgeon had to have your surgeon perform the sternotomy to perform the bypass. They were not there to perform different procedures. Hope this makes sense.