Wiki Forearm blood vessel repair

[Robbin109]

If both the radial and ulnar arteries are repaired is 35206 coded twice or just once?

Same incision.

Pt also had embolectomy of ulnar artery.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ellis3350]

You would only code for the embolectomy 34111. The repair is included.

 

[Robbin109]

Sorry, I should have said the repair was the main surgery. The patient had a injury to the forearm and both arteries were completed transected. He did an embolectomy in the process.
I'm just wondering about the number of times the 35206 would be billed. Does it included both arteries?

 

[ellis3350]

The 35206 has an MUE of 2, so you could code it twice or with 2 units.

 

[Robbin109]

I think it has an MUE of 2 because there are two arms. IF you could code all four vessels wouldn't it have an MUE of 4?

 

[Robbin109]

I found guidelines in Dr. Z guidebook that says for this code, all vessels are coded separately. So both would be coded