00540 Anesthesia thoracotomy procedures not otherwise specified
Also known as: thoracotomy anesthesia, open chest surgery anesthesia
Anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures not otherwise specified. Covers general anesthesia for open surgical procedures through the chest wall that do not have a more specific thoracotomy anesthesia code.
In Plain Language
anesthesia for open chest surgery; being put to sleep for surgery through the chest wall
Clinical Context
Used when providing anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures not covered by more specific codes (00541-00548). Includes exploratory thoracotomy, chest wall tumor resection, and other open chest procedures. May require one-lung ventilation and thoracic epidural for pain management.
RVU Information
CPT 00540 does not have a physician work RVU assigned by CMS. Anesthesia codes use a base unit + time unit system rather than standard RVUs. Contact your payer for the anesthesia conversion factor.
Billing & Documentation
Anesthesia codes are billed using base units plus time units. One time unit typically equals 15 minutes of anesthesia time. Document start and stop times, patient status (P1-P6), and any qualifying circumstances. Modifiers AA, QK, QX, or QY indicate the provider arrangement.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 00540?
CPT 00540 (Anesthesia thoracotomy procedures not otherwise specified) is a Anesthesia code. Anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures not otherwise specified. Covers general anesthesia for open surgical procedures through the chest wall that do not have a more specific thoracotomy anesthesia code.
How is anesthesia code 00540 billed?
Anesthesia code 00540 is billed using base units plus time units (1 unit = 15 minutes). Used when providing anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures not covered by more specific codes (00541-00548). Includes exploratory thoracotomy, chest wall tumor resection, and other open chest procedures. May require one-lung ventilation and thoracic epidural for pain management. Used by anesthesiology, thoracic surgery.
When is CPT 00540 used?
Used when providing anesthesia for thoracotomy procedures not covered by more specific codes (00541-00548). Includes exploratory thoracotomy, chest wall tumor resection, and other open chest procedures. May require one-lung ventilation and thoracic epidural for pain management.
Track This Code in RVU Edge
Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against MGMA data — all in one app.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.