What would be the appropriate code to report cystoscopy with ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy with steerable vacuum stone extraction for renal and/or ureteral stones, based on the information below? A 20 French rigid cystoscope was inserted into the bladder. The semirigid ureteroscope was inserted into the ureter, and a stone was noted in the distal ureter. Laser lithotripsy was used to fragment the stone into small pieces, and the fragments were removed with a zero tip. A second wire was passed to the kidney, and the semirigid ureteroscope was removed. An 11/13 access sheath was placed under fluoroscopic guidance. The full collecting system was surveyed with the single-use central venous access catheter ureteroscope. Exhaustive steerable vacuum aspiration was performed in the upper pole using continuous fluid irrigation, increased fluid flow to mobilize the stones, and intermittent vacuum aspiration. ...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This premium article addresses how to approach code selection for a renal and/or ureteral stone procedure performed with cystoscopy and ureteroscopy, including laser lithotripsy and vacuum-assisted stone extraction concepts. It is intended for coding professionals seeking guidance on how the reported operative details fit within the appropriate urologic endoscopy code family.

Why This Topic Matters

Accurate code selection for endoscopic stone procedures depends on aligning the operative report with the correct urology code family and understanding which procedural elements are part of the reported service. This article helps coders and auditors evaluate a real operative scenario involving multiple stone-treatment steps.

Codes Discussed

• CPT: 52353

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