CPT Has the Aspirin for Your Colpopexy Headache
Published on Sun Oct 26, 2003
CPT 2004 adds a new code (57425, Laparoscopy, surgical, colpopexy [suspension of vaginal apex]) for a laparoscopic colpopexy. But watch out: You shouldn't code lysis separately.
Ob-gyns normally perform laparoscopic colpopexy on patients with uterovaginal prolapse or prolapse of the vaginal vault following a hysterectomy. The surgeon secures a graft to the pubocervical and rectovaginal fascia to suspend the back of the vagina, says Harry L. Stuber, MD, an independent gynecologist based in Cookeville, Tenn. In addition, the physician may do presacral dissection so he can secure the graft to the anterior longitudinal ligament of the sacrum.
If required, he will also lyse any adhesions that are present to gain access to the vaginal apex. You normally wouldn't code this lysis separately, says Melanie Witt, RN, CPC, MA, an ob-gyn coding expert based in Fredericksburg, Va.
