The left middle turbinate was medialized, and the treatment area at the point of attachment of the middle turbinate to the lateral wall was visualized. Under nasal endoscopy the cryoablation device previously prepped was advanced and placed on the mucosal surface overlying the Sphenopalatine Foramen located in the posterior aspect of the middle meatus, on the lateral nasal wall. The device was activated for 30 seconds to apply cryotherapy for destruction of the nasal nerves. Once the freezing stopped the patient was instructed to breathe through their nose to facilitate thawing of the frozen tissue. Once the device was determined to not be adherent to the mucosal surface, the probe was removed. After removing the cryoprobe the treated area was endoscopically inspected and a ~20 mm diameter blanched lesion indicating the destruction of the tissue was observed. Another freeze was performed using an identical technique immediately inferior to that just performed. This ensured that the dysfunctional nerve were adequately treated with cryoablation.
Clarifix cryoablation device – help on how to code
Our physician performed a cryoablation of the nasal nerve for chronic rhinitis. There is some debate as to how to code. The physician feels 30117 and 31231 is appropriate but I feel it should be an unlisted code. I have provided part of the operative note below. Any thoughts on how this should be coded??
