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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Surgical Patties

Published on Fri Jun 01, 2001

Question: A neurosurgeon has asked our otolaryngologist to insert Codman Surgical Patties into a patients sinuses. Is there a code for this?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: Surgical patties may be placed to help identify a spinal fluid leak, says Lee Eisenberg, MD, an otolaryngologist in private practice in Englewood, N.J., and a member of CPTs editorial panel and executive committee. Unless the placement of the patties is performed endoscopically, there is no code for the procedure and it is included in any E/M service billed.

If endoscopy was a part of the placement, 31231 (nasal endoscopy, diagnostic, unilateral or bilateral [separate procedure]) may be used.
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