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Cardioversion is a medical procedure aimed at restoring a normal heart rhythm in patients experiencing arrhythmias, which are abnormal heart rates that can be either too fast or irregular. The procedure can be performed electively, meaning it is scheduled in advance rather than being an emergency intervention. In the case of internal cardioversion, as indicated by CPT® Code 92961, the procedure is conducted during open chest surgery, where defibrillator pads are placed directly on the heart. This method allows for more direct delivery of electrical impulses to the heart muscle, which can be more effective in certain situations compared to external cardioversion. The procedure typically involves the administration of sedation to ensure patient comfort during the process. The electrical shocks delivered during internal cardioversion are carefully calibrated based on the specific type of arrhythmia and the patient's individual response, with the possibility of adjusting the strength of the shocks if the initial attempt does not restore normal rhythm. This procedure is critical for managing serious arrhythmias that may pose significant health risks if left untreated.
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Cardioversion, particularly internal cardioversion as described by CPT® Code 92961, is indicated for patients who are experiencing specific types of arrhythmias that require intervention to restore normal heart rhythm. The following conditions may warrant the use of this procedure:
The internal cardioversion procedure involves several critical steps to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the intervention. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the internal cardioversion procedure, patients are typically monitored in a recovery area to ensure that their heart rhythm stabilizes and that they respond well to the intervention. Post-procedure care may include monitoring vital signs, assessing for any complications, and providing supportive care as needed. Patients may also receive instructions regarding activity restrictions and follow-up appointments to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure and to manage any underlying conditions that may have contributed to the arrhythmia.
| Short Descr | CARDIOVERSION ELECTRIC INT | Medium Descr | CARDIOVERSION ELECTIVE ARRHYTHMIA INTERNAL SPX | Long Descr | Cardioversion, elective, electrical conversion of arrhythmia; internal (separate procedure) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Team Surgery (66) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | Type of Service (TOS) | 1 - Medical Care | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 49 - Other OR heart procedures |
| 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service: it may be necessary to indicate that on the day a procedure or service identified by a cpt code was performed, the patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable e/m service above and beyond the other service provided or beyond the usual preoperative and postoperative care associated with the procedure that was performed. a significant, separately identifiable e/m service is defined or substantiated by documentation that satisfies the relevant criteria for the respective e/m service to be reported (see evaluation and management services guidelines for instructions on determining level of e/m service). the e/m service may be prompted by the symptom or condition for which the procedure and/or service was provided. as such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the e/m services on the same date. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 25 to the appropriate level of e/m service. note: this modifier is not used to report an e/m service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery. see modifier 57 for significant, separately identifiable non-e/m services, see modifier 59. | 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category. |
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Guideline information changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2000-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2000. |
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