Understanding Zero Balance Ultrafiltration
A Guide to Zero Balance Ultrafiltration
What is Zero Balance Ultrafiltration?
Defining Zero Balance Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration is used to maintain volume management and/or filter the blood in order to reduce the adverse effects of hemodilution during CPB.
Example: A patient was admitted for a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure. During the CABG, the surgeon noted that the patient experienced hyperkalemia while on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which required zero balance ultrafiltration (Z-BUF). Is Z-BUF coded separately or is it inherent to the CABG procedure?
Answer: Hyperkalemia is common while on CPB and the use of Z-BUF to treat it is inherent to the total procedure. Auxiliary procedures done solely to support the performance of a surgical procedure are not coded separately.
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