Wiki Not sure what to code & what not to

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medicalwhitney

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CardioThoracic Surgery

The surgeon has listed Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy, Mediastinoscopy, Right upper lobe wedge resection, Bilobectomy of the RT middle & lower lobes.

I'm really confused as to what I need to code. Can someone please help me out? Thanks.
 
You need to use 32482, 32500-59 for sure. 31622-59, I would think & the mediastinoscopy will depend on if it was diagnostic or if it started as this then converted to a thoracotomy
 
I disagree slightly. I would not bill 31622 and I would bill 39400. The bronchoscopy is a" separate procedure" & should not be billed with any excision of the lung. Truth be told, the surgeon probably only did it to" get a lay of the land," I think every surgeon does this prior to a chest procedure.

I think you should bill for the mediastinoscopy because the surgeon made a separate incision to do this and my guess is that he was doing it to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (because if it had, I don't think they would have proceeded with the bilobectomy).

So, my final codes would be 32482, 32500-59, 39400.

Lisi, CPC
eharkler@nmh.org
 
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