Radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in association with other cardiac surgery
Summary
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in association with other cardiac surgery.
Description
Atrial fibrillation is the irregular and rapid beating of the upper two chambers of the heart (the atria). It may be classified as paroxysmal, persistent or permanent. Patients with atrial fibrillation may be asymptomatic or they may have symptoms including palpitations, dizziness and breathlessness. They also have an increased risk of stroke as a result of blood clots forming in the left atrium and then embolising to the brain. Although atrial fibrillation may occur in the absence of other heart disease, it is particularly common in patients with mitral valve disease.
Radiofrequency ablation of the atria can be performed via a catheter introduced through a femoral vein but surgical radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation is typically carried out in patients undergoing concomitant open-heart surgery, including mitral valve replacement or repair. Radiofrequency is used to create lines of ablation rather than the incisions created in the traditional Cox maze surgery.
OPCS4.6 Code(s):
One of the following OPCS-4 codes is selected depending on the area of ablation, codes are also dependent on whether the surgery is performed open or transluminally:
K57.1 Percutaneous transluminal ablation of atrioventricular node
K57.2 Percutaneous transluminal ablation of conducting system of heart NEC
K57.4 Percutaneous transluminal ablation of accessory pathway
K57.5 Percutaneous transluminal ablation of atrial wall NEC
K62.2 Percutaneous transluminal ablation of atrial wall for atrial flutter
K62.3 Percutaneous transluminal ablation of conducting system of heart for atrial flutter NEC
K52.1 Open ablation of atrioventricular node
K52.8 Other specified open operations on conducting system of heart
In addition to one of the codes listed above the OPCS-4 code Y11.4 is assigned:
Y11.4 Radiofrequency controlled thermal destruction of organ NOC
Includes: Radiofrequency ablation of organ NOC
The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS. The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided. www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding
Details
Surgical procedures
Contact details:
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments)
ip@nice.org.uk
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
Links:
This page was last updated: 04 April 2011

