CPT^® 32668, Under Thoracoscopy (Video-assisted thoracic surgery [VATS]) on the Lungs and Pleura

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) code 32668 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Thoracoscopy (Video-assisted thoracic surgery [VATS]) on the Lungs and Pleura.

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Summary

This procedure involves visualizing the chest cavity and the lung in order to resect, or remove, more than one section of the lung for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

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trisegmentectomy

Hello [USER=11456]cmacdonald[/USER], I know this is an old post but wondering if you figured out how to code this. I have the same question. Based on my research and talking to the surgeon, I'm being ... [ Read More ]

trisegmentectomy

What code would I used for a trisegmentectomy. The surgeon said "The three segments were contiguous and were part of a single specimen. They were not three segments from different places." 32669, 32... [ Read More ]

VATS and lobectomy

I agree with emoates.....You bill for 32663 and 32674 (if you've met criteria for 32674). If he does a wedge to determine whether or not it is cancer, and the path comes back as such, then I would bi... [ Read More ]

VATS and lobectomy

I believe you can only bill for the 32663. You cannot bill the 32668 because that would be used if the surgeon had wedged out the nodule/mass and sent it to pathology to determine whether to proceed ... [ Read More ]

VATS and lobectomy

Indication: biopsy-proven non-small cell lung cancer and CLL, SLL Syndrom. Referred for upper lobectomy with a growing nodule in the lung. Pet scan shows no hilar node involvement. Operative findin... [ Read More ]

R VATS vs Thoracotomy

...I performed a right thracoscopy through three 1.5 cm incisions. We idenitified the pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe and resected this using multiple firings of a GIA stapler. We sent this ... [ Read More ]

Thoracoscopy

32657 has been deleted for 2012. The VATS codes underwent many, many changes this year, by more completely separating the diagnostic and surgical VATS procedures, adding in lymphadenectomies, several... [ Read More ]

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