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Urology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Postsurgery Hematoma

Published on Fri Mar 01, 2002

Question: How should I bill for evacuation of a scrotal hematoma postoperatively? The patient had an orchiectomy, and one week later was returned to the operating room.

Michigan Subscriber  
Answer: The hematoma is a complication of the orchiectomy. Bill 54700 (Incision and drainage of epididymis, testis and/or scrotal space [e.g., abscess or hematoma]) with modifier -78 (Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period). Use 608.83 (Other specified disorders of male genital organs; vascular disorders) and 998.2 (Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified; accidental puncture or laceration during a procedure).
 
This procedure is rarely performed in the office, but, if it were, it would not be billable because it is a complication.
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