Anesthesia

Question 1

Add on Codes

Answer 1

Procedures commonly carried out in addition to the primary procedure performed. Add on codes may not be reported alone and identified with a plus sign

Question 2

Anesthesiologist Assistant

Answer 2

A health professional who has completed an accredited Anesthesia Assistant training program

Question 3

Anesthesia Time

Answer 3

Time begins when the anesthesiologist (or anesthesia provider) begins to prepare the patients for the induction of anesthesia and ends with the anesthesiologist (or anesthesia provider) is no longer in personal attendance

Question 4

Arterial Line

Answer 4

A catheter inserted into an artery. It is used most commonly to measure real time blood pressure and to obtain samples for arterial blood gas

Question 5

Base Unit Value

Answer 5

Value assigned to anesthesia code for anesthetic management of surgery and diagnostic tests. Base unit values will vary depending on the difficulty of the surgery or diagnostic tests, and the management of anesthesia

Question 6

Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB)

Answer 6

A technique used during heart surgery to take over temporarily the function of the heart and lungs

Question 7

Central Venous Catheter

Answer 7

A catheter placed in a large vein such as the internal jugular, subclavian or femoral vein with the tip of the catheter close to the atrium or in the right atrium of the heart

Question 8

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Answer 8

A registered nurse who has completed an accredited nurse anesthesia training program

Question 9

Controlled Hypotension

Answer 9

Technique used in general anesthesia to reduce blood pressure to control bleeding during surgery. Watch anesthesia record for notes regarding deliberate or controlled hypotension

Question 10

Conversion Factor

Answer 10

A unit multiplier used to convert anesthesia units into a dollar amount for anesthesia services. Conversion Factors are reviewed annually by CMS and vary geographically. Conversion Factors also may be negotiated with insurance companies.

Question 11

CVP Central Venous Pressure

Answer 11

Direct measurement of blood pressure in the right atrium and vena cava. CVP reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to pump the blood from the right heart into the pulmonary system.

Question 12

Emergency

Answer 12

A delay in treatment would lead to significant increase in the threat to life or body part

Question 13

Flat Fee

Answer 13

A flat fee is based on the physician fee schedule. Payments are made under the Relative Value Unit, rather than by Conversion Factor. Time in not a consideration for payment. Examples are arterial lines, CV line, emergency intubation and Swan-Ganz catheter insertion.

Question 14

General Anesthesia

Answer 14

A drug induced loss of consciousness during which patients cannot be aroused.

Question 15

Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

Answer 15

Implies a temperature of 20 degrees centigrade or less.

Question 16

Medical Direction

Answer 16

Occurs when an anesthesiologist is involved in two, three or four concurrent anesthesia procedures or a single anesthesia procedure with a qualified anesthetist. CMS and other carriers publish criteria to be met to report medical direction

Question 17

Medical Supervision

Answer 17

Occurs when an anesthesiologist in involved in five or more concurrent procedures or fails to meet required medical direction criteria

Question 18

Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC)

Answer 18

Refers to a technique for many surgical procedures that do not require deep sedation or general anesthetic. Anesthesia provider must be prepared to convert to general anesthesia if necessary.

Question 19

PAC Pulmonary Artery Catheter (for example, Swan-Ganz)

Answer 19

A flow directed catheter inserted into the pulmonary artery. PACs are used to measure pressures and flows within the cardiovascular system

Question 20

Physical Status modifier

Answer 20

Modifier used to report the physical status assigned to each patient undergoing anesthesia. Patients are ranked by their individual health status.

Question 21

Pump Oxygentor

Answer 21

Term used when a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine is used to function as the heart and lungs during heart surgery

Question 22

Qualifying Circumstances

Answer 22

Circumstances significantly affecting the character of an anesthesia service. These add on procedures may be reported only with anesthesia codes. More than one may be reported, if applicable. Qualifying circumstances may not be reported separately when a code descriptor already indicated the circumstance

Question 23

Regional Anesthesia

Answer 23

Loss of sensation in a region of the body, produced by application of an anesthetic agent

Question 24

Relative Value Unit

Answer 24

A unit measure used to assign a value to services. It is determined by assigning weight to factors such as physician work, practice expense and malpractice expense

Question 25

Resident (anesthesia resident)

Answer 25

A physician who has completed his or her medical degree and entered a residency program specifically for anesthesiology training

Question 26

SRNA (student registered nurse anesthetist)

Answer 26

A registered nurse who is training in an accredited nurse anesthesia program

Question 27

Surgical Field Avoidance

Answer 27

Anesthesia provider avoids an area where the surgeon is working (usually on procedures around the head, neck or shoulder girdle)

Question 28

Total Body Hypothermia

Answer 28

Deliberate reduction of a patients total body temperature, which reduces the general metabolism of the tissues. Evaluate the anesthesia record for notes regarding total body hypothermia. Generally, temperature is reduced to 20 percent to 30 percent below a patients normal temperature. This may not be reported separately when code indicates it is included.