Hello, everyone, and welcome back to our case scenario for the month of October 2023. This month, we will be discussing the coding of current ablation strategies in sequence 71-35. In this scenario, Mrs. Lopez is admitted for a redo ablation procedure. Mrs. Lopez has a history that includes longstanding persistent AFib with an ablation performed two years ago, in which pulmonary vein isolation was used to isolate all four pulmonary veins. However, Mrs. Lopez has continued to have episodes of symptomatic sustained AFib that have been hard to control with just medication. During the current procedure, all of Mrs. Lopez' pulmonary veins were assessed to confirm if they were still isolated, which the assessment showed they were still isolated. During the procedure, an ablation was performed on the posterior wall of the left atrium to treat AFib rhythm triggers. Our question is, since the patient's pulmonary veins were assessed utilizing a pulmonary vein isolation strategy, will pulmonary vein isolation be coded as a current ablation strategy in sequence 71-35? Number one, yes. Or number two, no. Please take a moment to review the documentation and question before making a final answer. The answer is number two, no. While it is true that pulmonary vein isolation was used to assess the pulmonary veins to confirm if they were still isolated, it was not used as a strategy to ablate or treat the AFib rhythm. In this case, based on the documentation of a left atrial posterior wall ablation taking place, we would code empiric LA linear lesions as the strategy used in sequence 71-35, as it was the strategy used to ablate and treat the AFib rhythm. We thank you for taking the time to review our latest case scenario.

AFib Ablation Registry

June 2023

Chad's Vasc Stroke

coding instructions

patient's medical history