CAISS-AIS FAQs coding Flashcards
Exam Questions and Answers Graded A+
Q: How is an aneurysm coded? - Correct answer-A: An aneurysm is a sac formed
by the dilatation of the walls of an artery or a vein and filled with blood; Code as
an intimal tear
Q: How is a pseudoaneurysm coded: - Correct answer-A: A pseudoaneurysm is a
hematoma formed by a leaking hole in an artery. Code as a vessel laceration
Q: How do I decided between coding Open vs. External approaches for procedures
on open wounds - Correct answer-A: External approach is for procedures
performed directly on the skin or mucous membrane and procedures performed
indirectly by the application of external force through the skin or mucous
membrane. Examples of external approach procedures are closed fracture
reduction, laceration repair of skin or mucous membranes, and excisional
debridement of skin only. Repair L lower arm subcutaneous tissue and fascia,
OPEN approach
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Q: A patient is found down in an apartment fire without cardiac activity and was
resuscitated and transported. She had a bronchoscopy and found to have a mild
inhalation injury with elevated carbon monoxide levels. How would you code this
injury and why? - Correct answer-A: This would be coded as an inhalation injury.
The asphyxia codes do not apply to inhalation injury. Carbon monoxide poisoning
is not a codeable injury and asphyxia applies to mechanical constriction or
restriction of the airway. You may only code the inhalation injury.
Q: When you start coding with ICD-10, there are many questions that arise. You
need to make a decision on how specific you want to be with your code selection?
There are many thoughts on coding in trauma systems and you may ask should you
code everything as specific as possible? Or, can you code less specifically and
perhaps have a more efficient work process for your registrars? - Do very specific
codes have an impact on our ISS? In other words, if I code super specific, will my
ISS's be higher? - Correct answer-A: In regard to theses question, we recommend
coding as specifically as possible using the AIS Dictionary, and not relying on the
computer to identify the codes since they don't always match and may give you
inaccurate AIS conversions and therefore inaccurate ISS.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Q: How are GSWs resulting in bony fractures or with the missile "lodged in" the
bone are coded? - Correct answer-A: Gunshot wounds resulting in bony fractures
or with the missile "lodged in" the bone are coded as open fractures.
Q: CT scan abdomen/pelvis shows: - spleen normal; kidneys and adrenal glands
normal; liver laceration gr IV injury - multiple deep lacerations. The patient is
taken to OR where the operative note states liver laceration gr V injury. What
would you code? - Correct answer-A: 541828.5; The surgeon is visually observing
the liver and thus the operative grading is more accurate than the CT scan. An
autopsy would also over-ride the reading of the CT if the grade is different.
Q: Scenario: Man falls from a ladder while trimming a tree striking the upright
post of a metal fence before impact on the ground. 1. Deep 18cm laceration across
the abdomen with obvious evisceration of bowel. Exploratory Lap report only
describes a Serosal tear at the junction of the duodenum and jejunum with a small
hematoma. How would you code these injuries? - Correct answer-A: You cannot
code evisceration, code the abdominal laceration as minor laceration < 20 cm
510602.1, code serosal tear assigning it to the jejunum as partial thickness injury
541422.2 hematoma is already part of this injury.
Q: Elderly patient fell out of bed, landing on his right side and c/o RUQ pain; CT
of the abdomen demonstrates an injury to the ligamentum teres hepatis. What
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, would you do with this injury? - Correct answer-A: The ligament teres hepatis
represents the remnant of the fetal left umbilical vein. As such, it is not a codeable
injury.
Q: How do you code a renal artery psuedoaneurysm? - Correct answer-A: A
pseudoaneurysm, also termed a false aneurysm, is a leakage of arterial blood from
an artery into the surrounding tissue with a persistent communication between the
originating artery and the resultant adjacent cavity. A pseudoaneurysm is a
hematoma formed by a leaking hole in an artery. Code as a vessel laceration.
Q: How do you code a large abdominal wall hernia on the R side of the abdomen
(NOT the Rectus Abdominus muscle) with a 15 cm fascial defect that required
open operative management to close? The skin was intact. This was a seatbelt
injury in a 12 yr. old. - Correct answer-A: This should be coded as 510602.1. This
is a "skin" code (assigned to the External ISS body region) and includes skin,
subcutaneous and muscle lacerations or tears. Although the outer skin was intact,
clearly there was damage below the surface. I realize this seems quite low in
severity for an injury that was clearly complex, but it's the best AIS has to offer.
Q: A person with a full bladder is struck by a car while crossing the street. He is
able to ambulate but experiences severe abdominal pain and faints. In the ED he
has low volume hematuria and the FAST scan shows intraperitoneal fluid. He is
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Exam Questions and Answers Graded A+
Q: How is an aneurysm coded? - Correct answer-A: An aneurysm is a sac formed
by the dilatation of the walls of an artery or a vein and filled with blood; Code as
an intimal tear
Q: How is a pseudoaneurysm coded: - Correct answer-A: A pseudoaneurysm is a
hematoma formed by a leaking hole in an artery. Code as a vessel laceration
Q: How do I decided between coding Open vs. External approaches for procedures
on open wounds - Correct answer-A: External approach is for procedures
performed directly on the skin or mucous membrane and procedures performed
indirectly by the application of external force through the skin or mucous
membrane. Examples of external approach procedures are closed fracture
reduction, laceration repair of skin or mucous membranes, and excisional
debridement of skin only. Repair L lower arm subcutaneous tissue and fascia,
OPEN approach
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Q: A patient is found down in an apartment fire without cardiac activity and was
resuscitated and transported. She had a bronchoscopy and found to have a mild
inhalation injury with elevated carbon monoxide levels. How would you code this
injury and why? - Correct answer-A: This would be coded as an inhalation injury.
The asphyxia codes do not apply to inhalation injury. Carbon monoxide poisoning
is not a codeable injury and asphyxia applies to mechanical constriction or
restriction of the airway. You may only code the inhalation injury.
Q: When you start coding with ICD-10, there are many questions that arise. You
need to make a decision on how specific you want to be with your code selection?
There are many thoughts on coding in trauma systems and you may ask should you
code everything as specific as possible? Or, can you code less specifically and
perhaps have a more efficient work process for your registrars? - Do very specific
codes have an impact on our ISS? In other words, if I code super specific, will my
ISS's be higher? - Correct answer-A: In regard to theses question, we recommend
coding as specifically as possible using the AIS Dictionary, and not relying on the
computer to identify the codes since they don't always match and may give you
inaccurate AIS conversions and therefore inaccurate ISS.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Q: How are GSWs resulting in bony fractures or with the missile "lodged in" the
bone are coded? - Correct answer-A: Gunshot wounds resulting in bony fractures
or with the missile "lodged in" the bone are coded as open fractures.
Q: CT scan abdomen/pelvis shows: - spleen normal; kidneys and adrenal glands
normal; liver laceration gr IV injury - multiple deep lacerations. The patient is
taken to OR where the operative note states liver laceration gr V injury. What
would you code? - Correct answer-A: 541828.5; The surgeon is visually observing
the liver and thus the operative grading is more accurate than the CT scan. An
autopsy would also over-ride the reading of the CT if the grade is different.
Q: Scenario: Man falls from a ladder while trimming a tree striking the upright
post of a metal fence before impact on the ground. 1. Deep 18cm laceration across
the abdomen with obvious evisceration of bowel. Exploratory Lap report only
describes a Serosal tear at the junction of the duodenum and jejunum with a small
hematoma. How would you code these injuries? - Correct answer-A: You cannot
code evisceration, code the abdominal laceration as minor laceration < 20 cm
510602.1, code serosal tear assigning it to the jejunum as partial thickness injury
541422.2 hematoma is already part of this injury.
Q: Elderly patient fell out of bed, landing on his right side and c/o RUQ pain; CT
of the abdomen demonstrates an injury to the ligamentum teres hepatis. What
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, would you do with this injury? - Correct answer-A: The ligament teres hepatis
represents the remnant of the fetal left umbilical vein. As such, it is not a codeable
injury.
Q: How do you code a renal artery psuedoaneurysm? - Correct answer-A: A
pseudoaneurysm, also termed a false aneurysm, is a leakage of arterial blood from
an artery into the surrounding tissue with a persistent communication between the
originating artery and the resultant adjacent cavity. A pseudoaneurysm is a
hematoma formed by a leaking hole in an artery. Code as a vessel laceration.
Q: How do you code a large abdominal wall hernia on the R side of the abdomen
(NOT the Rectus Abdominus muscle) with a 15 cm fascial defect that required
open operative management to close? The skin was intact. This was a seatbelt
injury in a 12 yr. old. - Correct answer-A: This should be coded as 510602.1. This
is a "skin" code (assigned to the External ISS body region) and includes skin,
subcutaneous and muscle lacerations or tears. Although the outer skin was intact,
clearly there was damage below the surface. I realize this seems quite low in
severity for an injury that was clearly complex, but it's the best AIS has to offer.
Q: A person with a full bladder is struck by a car while crossing the street. He is
able to ambulate but experiences severe abdominal pain and faints. In the ED he
has low volume hematuria and the FAST scan shows intraperitoneal fluid. He is
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
