Knowledge Base Article

Dilemma:

How do you know when to use plain radiography vs. fluoroscopy and which type of contrast should be used when coding coronary angiograms in ICD-10-PCS?

Solution:

Use fluoroscopy for the 3rd character (Root Type), per instructions in the ICD-10-PCS Coder Training Manual, 2016, Instructor’s Edition.  
The catheter is threaded into the heart using an x-ray machine that produces real time pictures which is fluoroscopy.  Then the catheter tip is moved into different positions such as the arteries and heart chambers while the physician is watching on a computer monitor.

The type of contrast dye will be low osmolar. Listed below are a few of the Low Osmolar Contrasts:

• Omnipaque
• Visipaque
• Isovue

Resource(s):

• ICD-10-PCS Coder Training Manual, 2016,
• Instructor’s EditionWikipedia