AMA CPT® Assistant - 2013 Issue 8 (August)

Surgery: Cardiovascular System (Q&A) (August 2013)

August 2013 page 14 Surgery: Cardiovascular System Question: Can code 37617, Ligation, major artery (eg, post-traumatic, rupture); abdomen, be used as an additional code when reporting colectomy or rectal resection when operating for malignancy? The arteries in question are the ileocolic artery and the inferior mesenteric artery, both of which would be ligated high for malignancy. Answer: No. Ligation of the vessels would not be reported separately. In addition, removal of the involved lymph nodes is inherent to a colon/ rectal resection for cancer. Ligating the vascular pedicle as part of the mesentery and lymph node removal is part...

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CPT® Assistant content is the official source for CPT® coding guidance. It is an instrumental tool when appealing insurance denials and validating coding to auditors. Monthly issues and an extensive archive provide comprehensive guidance on proper CPT® coding for past, present and upcoming code set releases. Archives date back to 1990 for historical use of codes, changes, rationales, coding tips and trends in the industry.

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