V-Fib in CABG

There is some disagreement between coding and CDI whether V-fib when coming off the pump and re-warming should sometimes, always, or never be coded.
Support for coding V-fib at this time is found in a coding clinic directing coding of V-tach in EP procedures-

In Coding Clinic First Quarter 2008, pages 14-15, a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure underwent an electrophysiologic (EP) study, which was positive for inducible ventricular tachycardia, and therefore an automatic implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (AICD) was inserted due to the ventricular tachycardia diagnosis. With this scenario, the ventricular tachycardia is codeable because it represents an underlying problem with conduction in the heart (a re-entrant circuit) and the tachycardia was treated with placement of an AICD.

What are other hospitals doing with this? Taking the MCC?
I would appreciate some input.

Janice Schoonhoven RN, MSN, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Integrity
Manager- PeaceHealth
Oregon West Network
jschoonhoven@peacehealth.org
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