TnRushFan
Networker
Hi folks, there has been some discussion in our office about suprapubic tube placement.
Some of us are under the impression that if a suprapubic tube is placed it is coded as 51102 no matter what...others of us (including myself) are of the opinion that if the provider uses a scalpel and electrocautery to dissect down to a Lowsley retractor (trans urethral placed into the bladder) that it would be coded to 51040 and still others think that if they use the Lowsley retractor it will be coded 51040 no matter what...
I think the difference is in the dissection...not just 'puncture' or 'stab wound' of the abdomen...
Am hoping someone can clear this up for us.
I have included a scrubbed excerpt below.
"Lowsley retractor was passed through the urethra and into the bladder.
The tip of the lowsely was palpated on the anterior abdominal wall 2 cm above
the pubic rim. A scalpel and Bovie electrocautery were used to cut down on the
Lowsley catheter and it was passed through the anterior abdominal
wall. The 16-French council-tip catheter was attached to Lowsley
with a 2-0 silk stitch and the Lowsley retractor was closed on the
catheter. The catheter was passed in an antegrade fashion through
the abdominal wall, bladder and out the meatus. The catheter tip was
removed from the Lowsley retractor. The 26-French resectoscope
was used to visualize the tip of the catheter as it was pulled
retrograde into the bladder."
Thanks in advance...
Some of us are under the impression that if a suprapubic tube is placed it is coded as 51102 no matter what...others of us (including myself) are of the opinion that if the provider uses a scalpel and electrocautery to dissect down to a Lowsley retractor (trans urethral placed into the bladder) that it would be coded to 51040 and still others think that if they use the Lowsley retractor it will be coded 51040 no matter what...
I think the difference is in the dissection...not just 'puncture' or 'stab wound' of the abdomen...
Am hoping someone can clear this up for us.
I have included a scrubbed excerpt below.
"Lowsley retractor was passed through the urethra and into the bladder.
The tip of the lowsely was palpated on the anterior abdominal wall 2 cm above
the pubic rim. A scalpel and Bovie electrocautery were used to cut down on the
Lowsley catheter and it was passed through the anterior abdominal
wall. The 16-French council-tip catheter was attached to Lowsley
with a 2-0 silk stitch and the Lowsley retractor was closed on the
catheter. The catheter was passed in an antegrade fashion through
the abdominal wall, bladder and out the meatus. The catheter tip was
removed from the Lowsley retractor. The 26-French resectoscope
was used to visualize the tip of the catheter as it was pulled
retrograde into the bladder."
Thanks in advance...