April 2007 page 11c
Coding Communication:Surgery: Respiratory System
Question
What is the appropriate code to
report for placement of two chest tubes inserted
into the pleural cavity, one on the left side
and one on the right side, in the same setting?
AMA Comment
Code 32020, Tube thoracostomy
with or without water seal (eg, for abscess, hemothorax,
empyema) (separate procedure), describes the
insertion of a tube through one of the intercostal
spaces into the pleural cavity. Fluid is drained
from the pleural cavity through the tube. If the
chest tubes are inserted into the pleural cavity
on both the...
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