You Be The Coder:
Which Code Describes J-P Drain?
Published on Wed May 26, 2004
Question: Several months following partial mastectomy, the surgeon inserted a J-P drain for persistent seroma. How should we report the drain?
Indiana Subscriber Answer: You should report 10160 (Puncture aspiration of abscess, hematoma, bulla, or cyst) because, in this case, the surgeon did not perform an incision and drainage (I&D). Had the surgeon performed I&D of the seroma, you would instead report 10140 (Incision and drainage of hematoma, seroma or fluid collection).
In either case, you should link an appropriate diagnosis (for example, 998.13, Seroma complicating a procedure) to your procedure code.
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