AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2021 Issue 3; Ask the Editor

Cavoatrial Junction Tear with Repair and Relief of Cardiac Tamponade

The patient required an emergency sternotomy due to acute hemorrhage. Upon surgical exploration, anterior mediastinal hematoma was found as well as robust venous bleeding due to cardiac tamponade with collapse of the right atrium. The pericardium was entered with sharp dissection with immediate release of a large volume of blood. Tamponade was relieved. The ongoing hemorrhage was isolated to the right atrium at the cavoatrial junction with disruption of the right atrium and superior vena cava. The large tear was sutured and reinforced with felt pledget. What is the appropriate procedure code assignment for surgery to relieve cardiac tamponade? Coding professionals are unsure whether to assign the root operation Control, Drainage or Release? What ICD-10-PCS codes should be assigned for this case? ...

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