Wiki Open Cardiac Massage

[dpumford]

A patient was recoving from valve surgery that he had 2 weeks ago.
He was doing better but then he went into cardiac arrest. The surgeon was on the floor and was called emergently into his room. They proceed with cardiac massage but this was with poor response. So the patients chest was opened for cardiac massage. The surgeon removed suture and sternal wires and then placed the sternal retractor which then allowed him to access the heart and open massage was preformed.

Pt was stablized and then taken to the OR for chest exploration (35820).

Now may question is would 32160, be appropriate? 92950 is not for open massage.

Any suggestions would be welcomed!!

Thank you!

 

[lisigirl]

cardiac massage

If the patient has medicare then I would say don't bill for the cardiac massage at all. Medicare will only cover procedures performed in the OR during the global period. If pt is non-Medicare then I think your code, 32160, is right.

Lisi, CPC