CPT code 93454 refers to a procedure where doctors use a thin tube to take pictures of the heart’s blood vessels to see how well blood is flowing. CPT 93454 represents “Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation;.”
Procedure Explanation:
This procedure involves placing a small tube, called a catheter, inside the heart’s arteries to look at blood flow using special images. During the process, doctors may inject a dye to get clearer pictures of the heart’s pathways. The procedure includes taking the images and supervising the imaging process, but it doesn’t include other extra tests or treatments that might be done separately.
Common Names:
- Coronary Angiography
- Heart Cath
- Angio
Relative Value Units (RVU):
The RVUs associated with this code are 4.54.
How This Procedure Appears:
- Operating Room Schedule Name: Heart artery catheterization for imaging
- Surgical Consent Form Name: Permission for X-ray of heart arteries using a tube
Typical Patients and Diagnoses:
This procedure is commonly used for patients who might have heart problems, like chest pain or heart disease. For example, someone experiencing severe chest pain that could be related to a heart attack may need this procedure to check their heart’s blood supply. It helps doctors determine if there are any blockages or narrowed arteries.
Associated ICD-10 Codes:
- I25.10: Represents a diagnosis of coronary artery disease where the heart arteries are hardened or narrowed but without any heart attack shown.
- I20.0: Indicates unstable angina, where a person has unexpected chest pain likely due to a heart artery issue.
- I21.9: Refers to a heart attack of an unspecified origin, used when the exact type isn’t determined immediately.
Summary
In summary, code 93454 describes the process of placing a catheter in heart arteries to take images for evaluating blood flow. Typical ICD-10 codes associated with 93454 include I25.10 (coronary artery disease without heart attack) and I20.0 (unstable angina).
Disclaimer
This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. “CPT” and CPT Codes are registered trademarks of the American Medical Association. HCPCS codes are managed by Medicare and are not subject to copyright.