tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2014 Issue 3

Reader Question: Distinguish 31622, 31624

Question: How should we report the following case: “Diagnostic bronchoscopy procedure: noted copious amounts of mucopurulent brownish material in airways, removed samples with suction and lavage and sent to lab for routine studies”? Texas Subscriber Answer: Because the procedure described is a diagnostic bronchoscopy and the surgeon uses the lavage to remove material for further study, the best code choice is 31622 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with cell washing, when performed [separate procedure]). A similar code might look tempting to you, especially because it uses the term “lavage” that your surgeon...

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