Question: My doctor performed a nephrectomy but before he started it (at the same session) he endoscopically excised the ureteral orifice and a surrounding cuff of bladder with a Collins knife. Would I use 52234 or 52214, 52276 for this?
Indiana Subscriber
Answer: The appropriate procedure code would be 52214 (Cystourethroscopy, with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] of trigone, bladder neck, prostatic fossa, urethra, or periurethral glands) for the excision of the ureteral orifice and the surrounding cuff of bladder. Code 52234 (Cystourethroscopy, with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] and/or resection of; SMALL bladder tumor[s] [0.5 up to 2.0 cm]) is for a transurethral resection of a small bladder tumor and 52276 (Cystourethroscopy with direct vision internal urethrotomy) for a direct vision internal urethrotomy of a urethral stricture. Both are inappropriate and incorrect for this clinical scenario.