April 29, 2021

Question:
The surgeon accidentally nicked a vessel not involved in the bypass being performed, can he bill for repair of vessel since he had to repair it?

Answer:
Iatrogenic, intraoperative complications that are repaired at the same operative session are not separately reported. Since the vessel laceration was an iatrogenic injury, inadvertently done by the surgeon during a surgery, it is not reported.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 4/29/21.