Urology Coding Alert

In response to a reader question, the March 2001 issue of Urology Coding Alert reported that an exploration of scrotum, perineum and inguinal areas with incision, drainage and excision of abscess, with placement of Penrose drains should be coded 11042 (debridement; skin, and subcutaneous tissue) or 11043 (debridement; skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle), depending on the depth of involvement and drainage. The answer assumes that the reader was referring to a case of Fourniers gangrene (608.83).

If the patient has a scrotal abscess, with no inflammatory spread to the perineum, the diagnosis is not likely Fourniers gangrene. In this case, use 54700 (incision and drainage of epididymis, testis and/or scrotal space [e.g., abscess or hematoma) for incision and drainage not debridement of the scrotal area.