AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2006 Issue 4; VOLUME 3 NEW/REVISED CODES
Intracerebral Catheter
Effective October 1, 2006, code 01.28, Placement of intracerebral catheter(s) via burr hole(s), was created for the insertion of strategically placed intracerebral catheters to deliver medication directly to the brain. While targeted antineoplastics have been developed for brain tumors, their administration has been hampered by the blood brain barrier, which prevents the passage of large molecules. A new delivery technique called convection enhanced delivery (CED) involves microinfusion of therapeutic agents through a catheter and directly into the target brain tissue. When the patient is stable, approximately two weeks following craniotomy with tumor resection, the antineoplastic agent is administered...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article explains a coding update for intracerebral catheter placement used in targeted delivery of medication directly into brain tissue. It provides context on the clinical technique, notes the procedure’s relationship to intracranial infusion therapy, and includes an example addressing diagnosis and procedure code assignment for a brain tumor case. It is relevant to inpatient coders, CDI staff, and professionals working with neurologic and neurosurgical procedures.
Why This Topic Matters
Targeted intracerebral infusion procedures have unique coding considerations because they combine neurosurgical access with medication delivery. Understanding the update helps coders identify the procedure category, related exclusions, and the types of cases where this technique may appear.
Article Sections
-
Overview and clinical context
Introduces the intracerebral catheter procedure update and explains the broader clinical setting in which targeted intracranial delivery techniques are used. The section also places the update in relation to neurologic disease and brain tumor treatment.
-
New code details and coding notes
Summarizes the new procedure code, related delivery approach terminology, and the associated coding note and exclusion. This section focuses on the code family and the general procedural context without providing substantive selection rules.
-
Coding example
Presents an inpatient-style scenario involving a recurrent brain tumor and catheter-based infusion therapy. The example ties together diagnosis and procedure assignment in a clinical context.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames intracerebral catheter placement in the context of targeted brain drug delivery
- What coding update is associated with the procedure concept
- How the article situates the topic within an illustrative brain tumor case
- Which coding domains are involved in the example
Who Should Read This
- Inpatient medical coders
- Coding educators
- Clinical documentation improvement staff
- Neurosurgery coding professionals
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com