How To Use CPT Code 00541

cpt 00541 describes the anesthesia services provided for thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 00541.

1. What is cpt 00541?

cpt 00541 is used to describe the anesthesia services provided for thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation. This code is used when the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia for a patient undergoing a procedure that involves opening the chest wall and using one lung ventilation.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 00541 is: ‘Anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures involving lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum (including surgical thoracoscopy); utilizing 1 lung ventilation.’

3. Procedure

1. The anesthesia provider performs a pre-operative evaluation of the patient.
2. The anesthesia provider induces the patient and monitors the patient during the procedure, which involves opening the chest wall by thoracotomy and employing thoracoscopy for the lung, pleura, diaphragm, or mediastinum service.
3. The anesthesia provider uses one lung ventilation for the patient, ventilating one lung while collapsing the other.
4. The anesthesia provider notes any types and amounts of medications administered, all forms of monitoring used, patient responses, and the start and stop times of anesthesia care.
5. Following the procedure, the anesthesia provider oversees the patient’s transfer to post-anesthesia care.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients eligible to receive cpt 00541 anesthesia services are those undergoing thoracotomy procedures involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation. The anesthesia provider must use one lung ventilation for the patient during the procedure.

5. When to use cpt code 00541

cpt 00541 should be used when the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia for a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation. This code should be used for each procedure performed.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 00541, the anesthesia provider must document the following information:

• Patient’s pre-operative evaluation
• Types and amounts of medications administered
• Forms of monitoring used
• Patient responses
• Start and stop times of anesthesia care

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 00541, ensure that the anesthesia provider performs anesthesia for a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation. This code should not be reported with other codes unless there are specific circumstances that warrant separate reporting. Additional tips for billing cpt 00541 may vary depending on the payer’s requirements.

8. Historical information

cpt 00541 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 2003. There have been no updates to the code since its addition.

9. Examples

1. An anesthesia provider performing anesthesia for a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation.
2. An anesthesia provider administering anesthesia for a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation.
3. An anesthesia provider monitoring a patient during a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation.
4. An anesthesia provider documenting the types and amounts of medications administered during a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation.
5. An anesthesia provider noting the start and stop times of anesthesia care for a patient undergoing a thoracotomy procedure involving the lungs, pleura, diaphragm, and mediastinum, including surgical thoracoscopy, with the utilization of one lung ventilation.