Surgery: Respiratory System (Q&A) (May 2014)

May 2014 page 10a Surgery: Respiratory System Question: What is the correct CPT code to report for mini bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) performed under moderate sedation? A mini BAL catheter is advanced down the endotracheal tube and 20 cc-30 cc normal saline is instilled, which is then followed by suction for a sample that is sent for testing. Answer: There is no CPT code for mini BAL under moderate sedation. Therefore, it would be appropriate to report unlisted code 31899, Unlisted procedure, trachea, bronchi. When reporting an unlisted code to describe a procedure or service, it is necessary to submit...

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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 May 2014 CPT Assistant Q&A article focuses on respiratory system coding for a bronchial lavage-related scenario performed under moderate sedation. It is relevant to coders and billing staff who work with pulmonary, respiratory, and procedural CPT reporting, especially when an unlisted procedure code is being considered and documentation support is discussed at a high level.

Why This Topic Matters

Articles like this help coders understand how a specific respiratory procedure scenario is handled in CPT guidance and what kind of documentation considerations may accompany unlisted procedure reporting. It is useful for avoiding misclassification and for recognizing when a service may fall outside a standard listed code.

Article Sections

  1. May 2014 page 10a

    A brief Q&A in the respiratory system section of CPT Assistant discussing a procedural coding scenario and related reporting guidance.

What You Will Learn

  • The article’s focus within the respiratory system coding area
  • How CPT Assistant addresses a bronchial lavage-related Q&A scenario
  • The general role of unlisted procedure reporting and documentation support in this context
  • Why this topic is relevant for respiratory and pulmonary coding workflows

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Billing staff
  • Compliance personnel
  • Respiratory and pulmonary practice staff

Codes Discussed


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