AAPC - American Academy of Professional Coders Cardiovascular System Coding Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient undergoes a pre-scheduled coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure.
The surgeon uses the left internal mammary artery to bypass the left anterior descending artery and also harvests and uses a saphenous vein to bypass the right coronary artery.
How should this procedure be coded?

Accepted Answer

33533 for the arterial graft and +33517 for the venous graft.

Answer

33533 for the arterial graft and 33510 for the venous graft.

Answer

33517 for the combined grafts.

Answer

33535 for two coronary artery grafts.

Question 2

A patient with symptomatic bradycardia undergoes a procedure for the insertion of a new permanent dual-chamber pacemaker system, which includes the pulse generator and transvenous electrodes in both the right atrium and right ventricle. Which CPT® code should be reported for this entire procedure?

Accepted Answer

33208

Answer

33213 for the pulse generator and 33217 for the leads.

Answer

33206 for the atrial lead and 33207 for the ventricular lead.

Answer

33249

Question 3

During a cardiac catheterization procedure, a physician performs a left heart catheterization, left ventriculography, and selective coronary angiography. Which CPT® code correctly bundles all of these services?

Accepted Answer

93458

Answer

93452

Answer

93451, 93454

Answer

93456 and 93454

Question 4

A patient undergoes a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The cardiologist performs a successful balloon angioplasty in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and then places a drug-eluting stent in the right coronary artery (RCA) during the same session. Which of the following is the correct coding?

Accepted Answer

92928-RC, 92920-LD

Answer

92920-LD, 92921-RC

Answer

92933-RC, 92920-LD

Answer

92928-RC, +92929-LD

Question 5

Which of the following services is bundled into the primary CPT codes for cardiac ablation (e.g., 93653, 93656) and should NOT be reported separately when performed during the same session?

Accepted Answer

A comprehensive electrophysiology (EP) study

Answer

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE)

Answer

3D mapping

Answer

Ablation of a second, distinct arrhythmia

Question 6

A patient with a previously implanted dual-chamber pacemaker presents for a pulse generator change due to battery depletion. The physician makes an incision over the old pocket, removes the existing pulse generator, tests the integrity of the existing leads, connects the leads to a new dual-chamber pulse generator, and closes the pocket. How is the removal and replacement of the pulse generator coded?

Accepted Answer

33228

Answer

33208

Answer

33233 and 33213

Answer

33235 and 33208