AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2012 Issue 3; Ask the Editor
Transplantation of Two Kidneys
A patient with end-stage renal disease received a unilateral transplant of two kidneys. The surgeon described it as a two-pack kidney transplant from a donor after cardiac death (DCD). Both donor kidneys were prepared and transplanted to the right iliac fossa of the recipient. Although this is not a bilateral procedure, should code 55.69, Other kidney transplantation, be reported twice to reflect the transplant of two kidneys? ...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article discusses a kidney transplant scenario in which two donor kidneys are transplanted during a single unilateral procedure. It is aimed at coding professionals who need to understand how this type of case is represented in ICD-9-CM and why the article says the procedure is not treated as bilateral in the coding context. The content focuses on the coding issue raised by the case and the general limitations of the code set in distinguishing the procedure details.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps coders and auditors recognize how a transplant involving two kidneys is represented in the referenced code set without overcounting the procedure.
What You Will Learn
- How a two-kidney transplant scenario is discussed in coding terms
- Why procedure laterality matters in the context of transplant coding
- How the article frames limitations of the referenced code set for this type of case
- How the question presented in the article is resolved at a high level
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Compliance staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Transplant surgery coding staff
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com