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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Pulmonology Coding:

Know When to Report Thoracostomy vs. Thoracentesis Procedures

Published on Tue Jun 30, 2026

Explore the procedure differences and how to get the correct code every time. A patient presents to the emergency department (ED) with trouble breathing and chest pain. A chest X-ray reveals fluid buildup in the pleural cavity, the space between the inner chest wall and the lungs. The surgeon successfully drains the fluid using a catheter. Without seeing the documentation, [...]
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