Question

Used to report embolectomy/thrombectomy procedures completed on arteries or veins, with or without catheter placement.

a. True
b. False

Answer 1

The statement about embolectomy/thrombectomy procedures being used for arteries or veins, with or without catheter placement, is true. These surgical procedures are performed to remove emboli or thrombi, respectively. Related treatments like angioplasty may involve dilation of the vessel with a balloon catheter and the insertion of a stent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is true: embolectomy/thrombectomy procedures are used to remove emboli or thrombi, which are blood clots, from arteries or veins. These procedures can be performed with or without the placement of a catheter. An embolectomy is the surgical removal of an embolus, a blood clot that has traveled from another location in the body and caused a blockage. A thrombectomy is similar but is the removal of a thrombus, a blood clot that has formed in the place where it is found.

For example, angioplasty is a related procedure where the occlusion is mechanically widened using a balloon catheter to compress the plaque material against the artery walls and increase blood flow. At the site of occlusion, a stent may be inserted to support and stabilize the blood vessel.

Answer 2

The true statement refers to medical procedures like embolectomy and thrombectomy for arteries or veins, which include the use of catheters for treatment similar to angioplasty, where a balloon catheter is used to compress plaque and a stent is often placed to maintain vessel patency.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is true. Procedures to report embolectomy/thrombectomy performed on arteries or veins, with or without catheter placement, are well established in medical coding and billing practices. These procedures involve the removal of emboli (obstructive clots that travel to various areas from a distant site) or thrombi (clots that form at the site of occlusion) respectively. When these procedures are completed, they can involve the placement of a catheter, similar to the one used in angioplasty, to reach the site of obstruction.

In angioplasty, for instance, a specialized catheter with an expandable balloon tip is introduced through a vessel, frequently in the leg, and guided to the site of blockage. Once there, the balloon is inflated to compress the accumulated plaque against the artery wall, thereby widening the vessel and improving blood flow. Following this procedure, it's common to insert a stent to support the artery walls and keep the vessel open to maintain blood flow. Procedures for embolectomy and thrombectomy deal with removing blockages rather than just widening the occlusion site.