tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2010 Issue 10

Reader Questions: 49080 Lavage is Part of Catheter Insertion

Question: A surgeon places a peritoneal dialysis catheter (49421) and at the completion of this surgery, he infuses and extracts a liter of fluid to assess the patency of the catheter and to ensure the abdominal cavity is of adequate size to ensure a proper dialysis treatment. Can we bill a peritoneal lavage for this process (49080) at the same setting with the catheter insertion?Pennsylvania SubscriberAnswer: No, you should not report 49080 (Peritoneocentesis, abdominal paracentesis, or peritoneal lavage [diagnostic or therapeutic]; initial). That code is for percutaneous peritoneocentesis, not for lavage (or any other type of fluid instillation...

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