Endoscopic Pulmonary Airway Flow Measurement

Effective October 1, 2008, code 33.72, Endoscopic pulmonary airway flow measurement, has been created for a new technology which assesses pulmonary airflow in patients with various types of lung disease. A balloon catheter is inserted into the diseased portion of the lung during bronchoscopy to diagnose the presence of collateral airflow between lobes of the lung. Collateral airflow measurement may be of interest to physicians who treat patients with severe emphysema using therapies designed to reduce the volume of diseased portions of the lung. Collateral airflow occurs when air finds its way into these diseased portions of the...

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

Article Overview

This article covers the creation of a new procedure code effective October 1, 2008, along with related updates to a bronchial/lung procedure subcategory. It also discusses the broader clinical context of collateral airflow assessment during bronchoscopy and how the topic relates to lung volume reduction therapies and endobronchial valve procedures. The material is relevant to coding professionals, CDI staff, and clinicians involved in pulmonary procedure documentation.

Why This Topic Matters

Changes in procedure coding can affect how bronchoscopic lung interventions and related measurements are reported. Understanding the scope of the new code and the surrounding category revision helps readers assess whether the article applies to their coding, documentation, or compliance workflow.

Article Sections

  1. Overview of the new pulmonary airflow measurement technology

    Introduces the bronchoscopic measurement concept and the clinical setting in which it is used. It frames the topic around assessment of airflow in diseased lung tissue.

  2. Category revision and new code creation

    Summarizes updates to a bronchus or lung procedure subcategory and the addition of a new endoscopic measurement code. It also notes related category wording changes.

  3. Clinical context and procedure example

    Provides a sample admission involving emphysema, bronchoscopy, and endobronchial valve treatment. It illustrates how the article’s topic appears in practice without presenting detailed coding logic.

What You Will Learn

  • The general purpose of endoscopic pulmonary airway flow measurement
  • How the topic fits within bronchoscopic procedure coding updates
  • The clinical context in which airflow assessment may be discussed
  • The type of procedure scenario used to illustrate the coding update

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding auditors
  • Clinical documentation specialists
  • Pulmonary practice staff
  • Physicians documenting bronchoscopic procedures

Codes Discussed

  • ICD-9-CM: 33.72
  • ICD-9-CM: 33.71
  • ICD-9-CM: 492.8

Code Ranges Discussed

  • ICD-9-CM: 33.7

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