AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 1987 September - October
Implantation of Automatic Ventricular Defibrillator, 37.94
The automatic ventricular defibrillator is not a cardiac pacemaker. Rather, it is designed to terminate malignant-type arrhythmias by depolarization of the entire myocardium. Implantation of an automatic ventricular defibrillator, 37.94, is often reserved for those patients who have survived two episodes of cardiac arrest not associated with acute myocardial infarction and at least one episode of cardiac arrest following what was presumed to be effective therapy for controlling ventricular fibrillation. The design of the automatic defibrillator has the capacity for a certain number of shocks before depletion of the battery source (for example, 100 shocks). Implantation of the...
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Article Overview
This article explains the general purpose, historical context, and operative approach associated with implantation of an automatic ventricular defibrillator. It is aimed at coding professionals, cardiology staff, and revenue cycle teams who need to understand where this procedure fits clinically and procedurally within cardiac device services.
Why This Topic Matters
Procedure coding for implanted cardiac defibrillator services depends on recognizing the service context and the general surgical approach described in legacy coding references. Understanding the scope of this article helps users determine whether the content is relevant to cardiac electrophysiology, operative documentation review, or historical code research.
What You Will Learn
- The general clinical purpose of an automatic ventricular defibrillator
- The operative setting and implantation approach commonly associated with the procedure
- The historical context of the referenced procedure code
- The type of documentation context this legacy article addresses
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Cardiology billing staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Cardiothoracic surgery staff
Codes Discussed
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