AAAM AIS CAISS 2015 -
Thorax - Study Set Questions
and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Define a persistent air leak? - Answer: It is an air leak in the thorax it last for more than 48 hours. It
represents a more severe injury than a simple pneumothorax. It is coded as a major pneumothorax,
code 442203.4
What is another way to describe the intracardiac septum? - Answer: Intraventricular septum
The patient has a flail chest with additional rib fractures on the same side, how do you code this? -
Answer: Code to the more severe injury which is the flail chest. The additional rib fractures on the same
side are not coded
How do you coded a degloving injury to the thorax? - Answer: Code as an avulsion
What is another name for the intercardiac chordae tendineae? - Answer: The papillary muscles
TRUE OR FALSE: 1000 mL blood loss in the thorax is a descriptor that must be adhered to for all
individuals when coding - Answer: False, the coding rule is for blood loss of GT 20% in the individual.
When coding pediatric or other individuals with smaller blood volumes used 20% blood loss parameter
instead of 1000 mL
What is the code for traumatic pneumatocele? - Answer: There isn't one at this time. It is a sequelae
resulting from injury
What body region do you code inhalation injuries to? - Answer: The thorax.
Inhalation codes include all airway burns from mouth and nose to the lungs. Do not code the mouth or
pharynx separately
, TRUE OR FALSE: Hemomediastinum includes a mediastinal contusion. - Answer: TRUE
How do you codescattered" lung contusions or lacerations?" - Answer: They should be coded to the
unilateral or bilateral not further specified code
Where do you find the code for breast avulsion and is it only for females? - Answer: It is found under the
whole area section. And yes it is only for females.
What must be involved in order to pick up a crush injury? - Answer: Massive bilateral destruction of
skeletal, vascular, organ and tissue systems.
What are the categories for penetrating injury in the thorax? - Answer: 1. Not further specified;
2. superficial or minor, into the pleural cavity but not involving deeper structures;
3. with tissue loss greater than 100 cm²,
4. with blood loss greater than 20% by volume
True or false - vessel injuries are coded separately from other injuries to the chest. - Answer: True,
except for crush injury
What is another name for the brachiocephalic artery? - Answer: The innominate artery
TRUE OR FALSE: Aortic thoracic injuries are OIS IV or V for entire category unless stated otherwise -
Answer: TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE: Brachiocephalic artery injuries are OIS III for entire category - Answer: TRUE
What does a coronary artery laceration or thrombosis include? (note what parts of heart) - Answer: Left
main artery, right main artery, or left anterior descending artery, or the coronary sinus
Thorax - Study Set Questions
and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Define a persistent air leak? - Answer: It is an air leak in the thorax it last for more than 48 hours. It
represents a more severe injury than a simple pneumothorax. It is coded as a major pneumothorax,
code 442203.4
What is another way to describe the intracardiac septum? - Answer: Intraventricular septum
The patient has a flail chest with additional rib fractures on the same side, how do you code this? -
Answer: Code to the more severe injury which is the flail chest. The additional rib fractures on the same
side are not coded
How do you coded a degloving injury to the thorax? - Answer: Code as an avulsion
What is another name for the intercardiac chordae tendineae? - Answer: The papillary muscles
TRUE OR FALSE: 1000 mL blood loss in the thorax is a descriptor that must be adhered to for all
individuals when coding - Answer: False, the coding rule is for blood loss of GT 20% in the individual.
When coding pediatric or other individuals with smaller blood volumes used 20% blood loss parameter
instead of 1000 mL
What is the code for traumatic pneumatocele? - Answer: There isn't one at this time. It is a sequelae
resulting from injury
What body region do you code inhalation injuries to? - Answer: The thorax.
Inhalation codes include all airway burns from mouth and nose to the lungs. Do not code the mouth or
pharynx separately
, TRUE OR FALSE: Hemomediastinum includes a mediastinal contusion. - Answer: TRUE
How do you codescattered" lung contusions or lacerations?" - Answer: They should be coded to the
unilateral or bilateral not further specified code
Where do you find the code for breast avulsion and is it only for females? - Answer: It is found under the
whole area section. And yes it is only for females.
What must be involved in order to pick up a crush injury? - Answer: Massive bilateral destruction of
skeletal, vascular, organ and tissue systems.
What are the categories for penetrating injury in the thorax? - Answer: 1. Not further specified;
2. superficial or minor, into the pleural cavity but not involving deeper structures;
3. with tissue loss greater than 100 cm²,
4. with blood loss greater than 20% by volume
True or false - vessel injuries are coded separately from other injuries to the chest. - Answer: True,
except for crush injury
What is another name for the brachiocephalic artery? - Answer: The innominate artery
TRUE OR FALSE: Aortic thoracic injuries are OIS IV or V for entire category unless stated otherwise -
Answer: TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE: Brachiocephalic artery injuries are OIS III for entire category - Answer: TRUE
What does a coronary artery laceration or thrombosis include? (note what parts of heart) - Answer: Left
main artery, right main artery, or left anterior descending artery, or the coronary sinus
